THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT  OF 

Pf of ess or 
Frank  W.  Wadsworth 


MILES  WALLINGFORD: 


SEQUEL  TO 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE. 


BY 

J.    FENIMORE    COOPER. 


NEW  YORK: 
D.    APPLETON    AND    COMPANY, 

549    &    551     BROADWAY. 

1873. 


Entered,  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1SG1,  by 

W.  A.  TOWNSEND  AND  COMPANY, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York 


PREFACE. 


THE  conclusion  of  this  talc  requires  but  little  preface. 
Many  persons  may  think  that  there  is  too  much  of  an 
old  man's  despondency  in  a  few  of  the  opinions  of  this 
portion  of  the  work ;  but,  after  sixty,  it  is  seldom  we 
view  the  things  of  this  world  en  beau.  There  are  cer 
tain  political  allusions,  very  few  in  number,  but  pretty 
strong  in  language,  that  the  signs  of  the  times  fully 
justify,  in  the  editor's  judgment ;  though  he  does  not 
profess  to  give  his  own  sentiments  in  this  work,  so 
much  as  those  of  the  subject  of  the  narrative  himself. 
"The  anti-rent  combination,"  for  instance,  will  prove, 
according  to  the  editor's  conjectures,  to  be  one  of  two 
things  in  this  community — the  commencement  of  a  dire 
revolution,  or  the  commencement  of  a  return  to  the 
sounder  notions  and  juster  principles  that  prevailed 
among  us  thirty  years  since,  than  certainly  prevail  to- 


PREFACE. 


day.  There  is  one  favorable  symptom  discoverable  in 
the  deep-seated  disease  that  pervades  the  social  system ; 
men  dare,  and  do  deal  more  honestly  and  frankly  with 
the  condition  of  society  in  tliis  country,  than  was  done 
a  few  years  since.  This  right,  one  that  ought  to  be 
most  dear  to  every  freeman,  has  been  recovered  only  by 
painful  sacrifices  and  a  stern  resolution ;  but  recovered 
it  has  been,  in  some  measure ;  and,  were  the  pens  of  the 
country  true  to  their  owners'  privileges,  we  should  soon 
come  to  a  just  view  of  the  sacred  nature  of  private 
character,  as  well  as  the  target-like  vulnerability  of 
public  follies  and  public  vice.  It  is  certain  that,  for 
a  series  of  dangerous  years,  notions  just  the  reverse  of 
this  have  prevailed  among  us,  gradually  rendering  the 
American  press  equally  the  vehicle  of  the  most  atro 
cious  personal  calumny,  and  the  most  flatulent  national 
self-adulation.  It  is  under  such  a  state  of  things  that 
the  few  evils  alluded  to  in  this  work  have  had  their 
rise.  Bodies  of  men,  however  ignorant  or  small,  have 
come  to  consider  themselves  as  integral  portions  of  a 
community  that  never  errs,  and,  consequently,  entitled 
to  esteem  themselves  infallible.  "When  in  debt,  they 
have  fancied  it  political  liberty  to  pay  their  debts  by 
the  strong  hand ;  a  very  easy  transition  for  those  who 
believe  themselves  able  to  effect  all  their  objects.  The 
disease  has  already  passed  out  of  ISTew  York  into 
Pennsylvania;  it  will  spread,  like  any  other  epidemic, 
throughout  the  country ;  and  there  will  soon  be  a  severe 
struggle  among  us,  between  the  knave  and  the  honest 


PREFACE. 


vn 


man.     Let  the  class  of  the  latter  look  to  it.     It  is  to  bf> 
hoped  it  is  still  sufficiently  powerful  to  conquer. 

These  few  remarks  are  made  in  explanation  of  cer 
tain  opinions  of  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  have  been  ex 
torted  from  him  "by  the  events  of  the  day,  as  he  was 
preparing  this  work  for  the  press ;  remarks  that  might 
seem  out  of  place,  were  it  not  a  part  of  his  original 
plan,  which  contemplated  enlarging  far  more  than  lie 
has,  indeed,  on  some  of  the  prominent  peculiarities  of 
the  state  of  society  in  which  he  has  passed  the  greater 
part  of  his  days. 


MILES    WALLINGFORD. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  But  I'll  not  chide  thee ; 
Let  shame  come  when  it  will,  I  do  not  call  It ; 
I  do  not  bid  the  thunder-hearer  shoot, 
Nor  tell  tales  of  thee  to  high-judging  Jove ; 
Mend  when  thou  canst" — 

LEAR. 

IT  is  almost  as  impossible  to  describe  minutely  what  occur 
red  on  the  boat's  reaching  the  Wallingford,  as  to  describe  all 
the  terrific  incidents  of  the  struggle  between  Drcwett  and  my 
self  in  the  water.  I  had  sufficient  perception,  however,  to  see, 
as  I  was  assisted  on  board  by  Mr.  Hardinge  and  Neb,  that  Lucy 
was  not  on  deck.  She  had  probably  gone  to  join  Grace,  with  a 
view  to  be  in  readiness  for  meeting  the  dire  intelligence  that 
was  expected.  I  afterward  learned  that  she  was  long  on  her 
knees  in  the  after-cabin,  engaged  in  that  convulsive  prayer 
which  is  apt  to  accompany  sudden  and  extreme  distress  in 
those  who  appeal  to  God  in  their  agony. 

Daring  the  brief  moments,  and  they  Avere  but  mere  particles 
of  time,  if  one  can  use  such  an  expression,  in  which  my  senses 
could  catch  any  thing  beyond  the  horrid  scene  in  which  I  was 
so  closely  engaged,  I  had  heard  shrill  screams  from  the  lungs 
of  Chloe ;  but  Lucy's  voice  had  not  mingled  in  the  outcry. 
Even  now,  as  we  were  raised,  or  aided,  to  the  deck,  the  former 
stood,  with  her  face  glistening  with  tears,  half  convulsed  with 
terror  and  half  expanding  with  delight,  uncertain  whether  to 
laugh  or  to  weep,  looking  first  at  her  master  and  then  at  her 


10  MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D . 

own  admirer,  until  her  feelings  found  a  vent  in  the  old  exclama 
tion  of  "  de  feller  f" 

It  was  fortunate  for  Andrew  Drewett  that  a  man  of  Post's 
experience  and  steadiness  was  with  us.  No  sooner  was  the 
seemingly  lifeless  body  on  board,  than  Mr.  Ilardinge  ordered 
the  water-cask  to  be  got  out ;  and  he  and  Marble  would  havo 
soon  been  rolling  the  poor  fellow  with  all  their  might,  or  hold 
ing  him  up  by  the  heels,  under  the  notion  that  the  water  he 
had  swallowed  must  be  got  out  of  him,  before  he  could  again 
breathe ;  but  the  authority  of  one  so  high  in  the  profession 
soon  put  a  stop  to  this.  Drewctt's  wet  clothes  were  immedi 
ately  removed,  blankets  were  warmed  at  the  galley,  and  the 
most  .judicious  means  were  resorted  to,  in  order  to  restore  the 
circulation.  The  physician  soon  detected  signs  of  life,  and, 
ordering  all  but  one  or  two  assistants  to  leave  the  spot,  in  ten 
minutes  Drewett  was  placed  in  a  warm  bed,  and  might  be  con 
sidered  out  of  danger. 

The  terrific  scene  enacted  so  directly  before  his  eyes,  pro 
duced  an  effect  on  the  Al&onny  man,  who  consented  to  haul  aft 
his  main-sheet,  lower  his  studding-sail  and  topsail,  come  by  the 
wind,  stand  across  to  the  Wallingford,  heave-to,  and  lower  a 
boat.  This  occurred  just  as  Drewett  was  taken  below;  and,  a 
minute  later,  old  Mrs.  Drewett  and  her  two  daughters,  Helen 
and  Caroline,  were  brought  alongside  of  us.  The  fears  of  these 
tender  relatives  were  allayed  by  my  report ;  for,  by  this  time,  I 
could  both  talk  and  walk ;  and  Post  raised  no  objection  to  their 
being  permitted  to  go  below.  I  seized  that  opportunity  to 
jump  down  into  the  sloop's  hold,  where  Neb  brought  me  some 
dry  clothes ;  and  I  was  soon  in  a  warm,  delightful  glow,  that 
contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  my  comfort.  So  desperate 
had  been  my  struggles,  however,  that  it  took  a  good  night's  rest 
completely  to  restore  the  tone  of  my  nerves  and  all  my  strength. 
My  arrangements  were  barely  completed,  when  I  was  summoned 
to  the  cabin. 

Grace  met  me  witl  extended  arms.  She  wept  on  my  bosom 
for  many  minutes.  She  was  dreadfully  agitated  as  it  was ; 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  11 

though  happily  she  knew  nothing  of  the  cause  of  Chloe's 
screams,  and  of  the  confusion  on  deck,  until  I  was  known  to  be 
safe.  Then  Lucy  communicated  all  the  facts  to  her  in  as  con 
siderate  a  manner  as  her  own  kind  and  gentle  nature  could 
dictate.  I  was  sent  for,  as  just  stated,  and  caressed  like  any 
other  precious  thing  that  its  owner  had  supposed  itself  about  to 
l)se.  We  were  still  in  an  agitated  state,  when  Mr.  Hardingc 
appeared  at  the  door  of  the  cabin,  with  a  prayer-book  in  his 
hand.  He  demanded  our  attention,  all  kneeling  in  both  cabins, 
while  the  good,  simple-minded  old  man  read  some  of  the  col 
lects,  the  Lord's  Prayer,  and  concluded  with  the  thanksgiving 
for  "  a  safe  return  from  sea" !  He  would  have  given  us  the 
marriage  ceremony  itself,  before  he  would  have  gone  out  of  tho 
prayer-book  for  any  united  worship  whatever. 

It  was  impossible  not  to  smile  at  this  last  act  of  pious  sim 
plicity,  while  it  was  equally  impossible  not  to  be  touched  with 
such  an  evidence  of  sincere  devotion.  The  offering  had  a  sooth 
ing  influence  on  all  our  feelings,  and  most  especially  on  those 
of  the  excited  females.  As  I  came  out  into  the  main  cabin, 
after  this  act  of  devotion,  the  excellent  divine  took  me  in  his 
arms,  kissed  me  just  as  he  had  been  used  to  do  when  a  boy,  and 
blessed  me  aloud.  I  confess  I  was  obliged  to  rush  on  deck  to 
conceal  my  emotion. 

In  a  few  minutes  I  became  sufficiently  composed  to  order  sail 
made  on  our  course,  when  we  followed  the  Orpheus  up  the 
river,  soon  passing  her,  and  taking  care  to  give  her  a  wide 
berth — a  precaution  I  long  regretted  not  having  used  at  first. 
As  Mrs.  Drewett  and  her  two  daughters  refused  to  quit  Andrew, 
we  had  the  whole  family  added  to  our  party,  as  it  might  be,  per 
force.  I  confess  to  having  been  sufficiently  selfish  to  complain 
a  little,  to  myself  only,  however,  at  always  finding  these  people 
in  my  way,  during  the  brief  intervals  I  now  enjoyed  of  being 
near  Lucy.  As  there  was  no  help,  after  seeing  all  the  canvas 
spread,  I  took  a  scat  in  one  of  the  chairs  that  stood  on  the 
main  deck,  and  began,  for  the  first  time,  coolly  to  ponder  on  all 
that  had  just  passed.  While  thus  occupied,  Marble  drew  a  chair 


12  MILES      WALUNGFORD. 

to  my  side,  gave  me  a  cordial  squeeze  of  the  hand,  and  began  to 
converse.  At  this  moment,  neatly  tricked  out  in  dry  clothes, 
stood  Neb  on  the  forecastle,  with  his  arms  folded,  sailor-fashion, 
as  calm  as  if  he  had  never  felt  the  wind  blow  ;  occasionally  giv 
ing  in,  however,  under  the  influence  of  Chloe's  smiles  and  un 
sophisticated  admiration.  In  these  moments  of  weakness,  the 
black  would  bow  his  head,  give  vent  to  a  short  laugh,  when, 
suddenly  recovering  himself,  he  would  endeavor  to  appear  dig 
nified.  While  this  pantomime  was  in  the  course  of  exhibition 
forward,  the  discourse  aft  did  not  flag. 

"  Providence  intends  you  for  something  remarkable,  Miles," 
my  mate  continued,  after  one  or  two  brief  expressions  of  his 
satisfaction  at  my  safety ;  "  something  uncommonly  remarkable, 
depend  on  it.  First,  you  were  spared  in  the  boat  off  the  Isle  of 
Bourbon ;  then,  in  another  boat  off  Delaware  Bay ;  next,  you 
got  rid  of  the  Frenchman  so  dexterously  in  the  British  Channel ; 
after  that,  there  was  the  turn-up  with  the  bloody  Smudge  and 
his  companions  ;  next  comes  the  recapture  of  the  Crisis ;  sixthly, 
as  one  might  say,  you  picked  me  up  at  sea,  a  runaway  hermit ; 
and  now  here,  this  very  day,  seventhly  and  lastly,  are  you  sit 
ting  safe  and  sound,  after  carrying  as  regular  a  lubber  as  ever 
fell  overboard,  on  your  head  and  shoulders,  down  to  the  bottom 
of  the  Hudson  no  less  than  three  times !  I  consider  you  to  be 
the  only  man  living  who  ever  sank  his  three  times,  and  came  up 
to  tell  of  it  with  his  own  tongue." 

"  I  am  not  nt  all  conscious  of  having  said  one  word  about  it, 
Moses,"  I  retorted,  a  little  dryly. 

"  Every  motion,  every  glance  of  your  eye,  boy,  tells  the  story. 
No ;  Providence  intends  you  for  something  remarkable,  you 
inay  rely  on  that.  One  of  these  days  you  may  go  to  Congress 
— who  -knows  ?" 

"  By  the  same  rule,  you  are  to  be  included,  then ;  for  in 
most  of  my  adventures  you  have  been  a  sharer,  besides  having 
quantities  that  are  exclusively  your  own.  Remember,  you  have 
even  been  a  hermit" 

"  Hu-s  -h — not  a  syllabic  about  it,  or  the  children  would  run 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  Ifl 

after  me  as  a  sight.  You  must  have  generalized  in  a  remark 
able  way,  Miles,  after  you  sunk  the  last  time,  without  much 
hope  of  coming  up  again  ?" 

"  Indeed,  my  friend,  you  are  quite  right  in  your  conjecture. 
So  near  a  view  of  death  is  apt  to  make  us  all  take  rapid  and 
wide  views  of  the  past.  I  believe  it  even  crossed  my  mind 
that  you  would  miss  me  sadly." 

"  Ay,"  returned  Marble,  Avith  feeling,  "  them  are  the  moments 
to  bring  out  the  truth !  Not  a  juster  idee  passed  your  brain 
than  that,  Master  Miles,  I  can  assure  you.  Missed  you  !  I  would 
have  bought  a  boat  and  started  for  Marble  Land,  never  again  to 
quit  it,  the  day  after  the  funeral.  But  there  stands  your  cook, 
fidgeting  and  looking  this  way,  as  if  she  had  a  word  to  put  in  on 
the  occasion.  This  expl'ite  of  Neb's  will  set  the  niggers  up  in 
the  world  ;  and  it  wouldn't  surprise  me  if  it  cost  you  a  suit  of 
finery  all  round." 

"  A  price  I  will  cheerfully  pay  for  my  life.  It  is  as  you  say — 
Dido  certainly  wishes  to  speak  to  me,  and  I  must  give  her  an 
invitation  to  come  nearer." 

Dido  Clawbonny  was  the  cook  of  the  family,  and  the  mother 
of  Chloe.  Whatever  hypercriticism  might  object  to  her  color, 
which  was  a  black  out  of  which  all  th%  gloss  had  fairly  glistened 
itself  over  the  fire,  no  one  could  deny  her  being  full  blown. 
Her  weight  was  exactly  two  hundred,  and  her  countenance  a 
'strange  medley  of  the  light-heartedness  of  her  race,  and  the 
habitual  and  necessary  severity  of  a  cook.  She  often  protested 
that  she  was  weighed  down  by  "  rcsponserbility ;"  the  whole  of 
the  discredit  of  over-done  beef,  or  under-done  fish,  together  with 
those  which  attach  themselves  to  heavy  bread,  lead-like  buck 
wheat  cakes,  and  a  hundred  other  similar  cases,  belonging  ex 
clusively  to  her  office.  She  had  been  twice  married,  the  last 
connection  having  been  formed  onlv  a  twelvemonth  before.  In 

O  */ 

obedience  to  a  sign,  this  important  lady  noAV  approached. 

"  Welcome  back,  Masscr  Mile,"  Dido  began  with  a  curtsey, 
meaning  "  Welcome  back  from  being  half  drowned ;"  "  ebberv- 
boddy  so  grad  you  isn't  hurt !" 


14  MILES      WALLINGFOttD. 

"  Thauk  you,  Dido — thank  you,  with  all  my  heart.  If  I  have 
gained  nothing  else  by  the  ducking,  I  have  gained  a  knowledge 
of  the  manner  in  which  my  servants  love  me." 

"  Lor'  bless  us  all !  How  we  help  it,  Masser  Mile  ?  As  if  a 
body  can  posserbly  help  how  lub  come  and  go  !  Lub  jest  like 
religion,  Masser  Mile — some  get  him,  and  some  don't.  But  lub 
for  a  young  masser  and  a  young  missus,  sar — dat  jest  as  nat'ral, 
as  lub  for  ole  masser  and  ole  missus.  I  t'ink  nut'in'  of  ncider." 

Luckily,  I  was  too  well  acquainted  with  the  Clawbonny  dia 
lect  to  need  a  vocabulary  in  order  to  understand  the  meaning 
of  Dido.  All  she  washed  to  express  was  the  idea  that  it  was  so 
much  a  matter  of  course  for  the  dependents  of  the  family  to 
love  its  heads,  that  she  did  not  think  the  mere  circumstance,  in 
itself,  worthy  of  a  second  thought. 

"  Well,  Dido,"  I  said,  "  how  does  matrimony  agree  with  you, 
in  your  old  age  ?  I  hear  you  took  a  second  partner  to  yourself, 
while  I  was  last  at  sea." 

Dido  let  her  eyes  fall  on  the  deck,  according  to  the  custom 
of  all  brides,  let  their  color  be  what  it  may ;  manifested  a  prop 
er  degree  of  confusion,  then  curtsied,  turned  her  full-moon  face 
so  as  to  resemble  a  half-moon,  and  answered,  with  a  very  sus 
picious  sort  of  a  sigh— 

"Yes,  Masser  Mile,  dat  jest  so.  I  did  t'ink  to  wait  and  ask 
'c  young  masser's  consent;  but  Cupid  say" — not  the  god  of 
love,  but  an  old  negro  of  that  name,  Dido's  second  partner — 
"  but  Cupid  sa'y,  '  what  odd  he  make  to  Masser  Mile  ?  he  long 
way  off,  and  he  won't  care ;'  and  so,  sah,  rader  than  be  tor 
mented  so  by  Cupid,  one  had  altogcddcr  better  be  married  at 
once — dat  all,  sah." 

"  And  that  is  quite  enough,  my  good  woman ;  that  every 
thing  may  be  in  rule,  I  give  my  consent  now,  and  most  cheer 
fully?' 

"  Tankee,  sah  !"  dropping  a  curtsey,  and  showing  her.  teeth. 

"  Of  course  the  ceremony  was  performed  by  our  excellent 
rector,  good  Mr.  Hardingc  ?" 

"Sartain,  s-vh — no  Clawbonny  nigger  t'ink  he  marry  at  all, 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  15 

'less  Masser  Ilarclinge  bless  liim  and  say  Amen.  Ebbcrybody 
say  'e  marriage  is  as  good  as  ole  masscr  and  missusses.  Dis 
make  two  time  Dido  got  married ;  and  both  time  good,  lawful 
cercmimny,  as  ebber  was.  Oh  !  yes,  sah !" 

"  And  I  hope  your  change  of  condition  has  proved  to  your 
mind,  Dido,  now  the  thing  is  done.  Old  Cupid  is  no  great 
matter  in  the  way  of  beauty,  certainly;  but  he  is  an  honest, 
sober  fellow  enough." 

"  Yes,  sah,  he  dat,  no  one  can  deny.  Ah  !  Masscr  Mile,  'em 
'ere  step-husband,  after  all,  nebber  jest  like  a  body  own  husband ! 
Cupid  berry  honest,  and  berry  sober ;  but  he  only  step-husband ; 
and  dat  I  tell  him  twenty  time  already,  I  do  t'ink,  if  trut'  was 
said." 

"  Perhaps  you  have  now  said  it  often  enough — twenty  times 
are  quite  sufficient  to  tell  a  man  such  a  fact." 

"  Yes,  sah,"  dropping  another  curtsey,  "  if  Masscr  Mile 
please." 

"  I  do  please,  and  think  you  have  told  him  that  often  enough. 
If  a  man  won't  learn  a  thing  in  twenty  lessons,  he  is  not  worth 
the  trouble  of  teaching.  So  tell  him  he's  a  step-husband  no 
more,  but  try  something  else.  I  hope  he  makes  Chloe  a  good 
lather  ?" 

"  Lor',  sah,  he  no  Chloe's  fadder,  at  all — her  fadder  dead  and 
gone,  and  nebber  come  back.  I  want  to  say  a  word  to  young 
inasser,  'bout  Chloe  and  dat  'ere  fellow,  Neb — yes,  sah." 

"  Well,  what  is  it,  Dido  ?  I  see  they  like  each  other,  and 
suppose  they  wish  to  get  married,  too.  Is  that  the  object  of 
your  visit  ?  If  so,  I  consent  without  waiting  to  be  asked.  Neb 
will  make  n.o  step-husband,  I  can  promise  you." 

"  Don't  be  in  a  hurry,  Masser  Mile,"  said  Dido,  with  an  eager 
ness  that  showed  this  ready  consent  was  any  thing  but  what 
she  wanted.  "Dere  many  'jection  to  Neb,  when  he  ask  to 
marry  a  young  gal  in  Chloe  sitiation.  You  know,  sah,  Chloe 
now  Miss  Grace's  own  waitin'-maid.  Nobody  else  help  her 
dress,  or  do  any  thing  in  'e  young  missus's  room,  dan  Chloe, 
sheself — my  darter,  Chloe  Clawbonny  !" 


16  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

Here  was  a  new  turn  given  to  the  affair !  It  was  "  like  mas 
ter,  like  man."  Neb's  love  (or  lub,  for  that  was  just  the  word, 
and  just  the  idea,  too)  was  no  more  fated  to  run  smooth  than 
my  own  ;  and  the  same  objection  lay  against  us  both,  viz.,  want 
of  gentility !  I  determined  to  say  a  good  word  for  the  poor 
fellow,  however ;  while  it  would  have  been  exceeding  the  usage 
'of  the  family  to  interfere  in  any  other  manner  than  by  advice, 
in  au  affair  of  the  heart. 

"  If  Chloe  is  my  sister's  favorite  servant,  Dido,"  I  remarked, 
"  you  are  to  remember  that  Neb  is  mine." 

"Dat  true,  sah,  and  so  Chloe  say ;  but  dere  great  difference, 
Masser  Mile,  atwccn  Clawbonny  and  a  ship.  Neb  own,  himself, 
young  masser,  he  doesn't  even  lib  in  cabin,  where  you  lib,  sah." 

"  All  that  is  true,  Dido  ;  but  there  is  a  difference  of  another 
sort  between  a  ship  and  a  house.  The  house-servant  may  be 
more  liked  and  trusted  than  the  out-door  servant ;  but  we  think, 
at  sea,  it  is  more  honorable  to  be  a  foremast-hand  than  to  be  in 
the  cabin,  unless  as  an  officer.  I  was  a  foremast  Jack  some 
time,  myself;  and  Neb  is  only  in  such  a  berth  as  his  master 
once  filled." 

"  Dat  a  great  deal — quite  won'erful,  sah — berry  great  deal, 
and  more  dan  Chloe  can  say,  or  I  can  wish  her  to  say.  But, 
sah,  dey  say  now  Neb  has  save  'e  young  masser's  life,  young 
masser  must  gib  him  free-paper ;  and  no  gal  of  mine  shall  ebbcr 
bo  free  nigger's  wife.  No,  sah ;  'scuse  me  from  dat  disgrace, 
which  too  much  for  fait'ful  olc  servant  to  bear !" 

"  I  am  afraid,  Dido,  Neb  is  the  same  way  of  thinking.  I 
offered  him  his  freedom,  the  other  day,  and  he  refused  to  re 
ceive  it.  Times  are  changing  in  this  country ;  and  it  will  bo 
thought,  soon,  it  is  more  creditable  for  a  black  to  be  free,  than 
to  bo  any  man's  slave.  The  law  means  to  free  all  hands  of  you, 
one  of  these  days." 

"  Nebber  tell  me  dat,  Masscr  Mile — dat  day  nebbcr  come  for 
me  or  mine ;  even  ole  Cupid  know  better  dan  dat.  Now,  sah, 
Misser  Van  Blarcum's  Brom  want  to  have  Chloe,  dreadful ;  but 
I  nebber  consent  to  sich  a  uner" — Dido  meant  union — "  neb- 


MILKS     WALLINOFORD.  17 

her.  Our  family,  sail,  altogeclder  too  good  to  marry  in  among 
the  Van  Blarcums.  Nebbcr  has  been,  and  never  shall  be  uncr 
atween  'em." 

"  I  was  not  aware,  Dido,  that  the  Clawbonny  slaves  were  so 
particular  about  their  connections." 

"  Won'erful  particular,  sah,  and  ebber  hab  been,  and  ebber 
will  be.  Don't  t'ink,  Masser  Mile,  I  marry  ole  Cupid,  myseitj 
if  anoder  prop'r  connection  offer  in  'e  family ;  but  I  prefar  him. 
to  marry  into  any  oder  family  hereabout." 

"  Neb  is  Clawbonny,  and  my  great  friend ;  so  I  hope  you 
will  think  better  of  his  suit.  Some  day  Chloe  may  like  to  be 
free  ;  and  Neb  will  always  have  it  in  his  power  to  make  his  wife 
free,  as  well  as  himself." 

"  Sah,  I  t'ink  as  you  say,  Masser  Miles,  sah — when  I  hab 
done  t'inkin',  sah,  hope  young  masser  and  young  missus  hear 
what  ole  cook  got  to  say,  afore  'ey  gives  consent." 

"  Certainly ;  Chloe  is  your  daughter,  and  she  shall  pay  you 
all  due  respect — for  that,  I  will  answer  for  my  sister  as  well  as 
for  myself.  We  will  never  encourage  disrespect  for  parents." 

Dido  renewed  and  redoubled  her  thanks,  made  another  pro 
found  curtsey,  and  withdrew  with  a  dignity  that,  I  dare  say,  in 
Neb's  and  Chloe's  eyes,  boded  little  good.  As  for  myself,  I 
now  mused  on  the  character  of  the  things  of  this  world.  Here 
were  people  of  the  very  humblest  class  known  in  a  nation — nay, 
of  a  class  sealed  by  nature  itself,  and  doomed  to  inferiority — 
just  as  tenacious  of  the  very  distinctions  that  were  making  me 
so  miserable,  and  against  which  certain  persons,  who  are  wiser 
than  the  rest  of  the  world,  declaim  without  understanding  them, 
and  even  go  so  far,  sometimes,  as  to  deny  their  existence.  My 
cook  reasoned,  in  her  sphere,  much  as  I  knew  that  Rupert  rea 
soned,  as  the  Drewetts  reasoned,  as  the*  world  reasoned,  and,  as 
I  feared,  even  Lucy  reasoned  in  my  own  case !  The  return  of 
Marble,  who  had  left  my  side  as  soon  as  Dido  opened  her 
budget,  prevented  my  dwelling  long  on  this  strange — I  had  al 
most  said,  uncouth — coincidence,  and  brought  my  mind  back  to 
nvescnt  things. 


18  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  As  the  old  woman  lias  spun  her  yarn,  Miles,"  tlic  mate  re 
sumed,  "  we  will  go  on  with  matters  and  tilings.  I  have  been 
talking  with  the  mother  of  the  youngster  that  fell  overboard, 
and  giving  her  some  advice  for  the  benefit  of  her  son  in  time 
to  come,  and  what  do  you  think  she  gives  as  the  reason  for  the 
silly  thing  he  did  ?" 

"  It  is  quite  out  of  my  power  to  say — that  he  was  a  silly  fel 
low  naturally,  perhaps." 

"  Love.  It  seems  the  poor  boy  is  in  love  with  this  sweet 
friend  of  yours,  Rupert's  sister,  and  it  was  nothing  more  nor 
less  than  love  which  made  him  undertake  to  play  rope-dancer 
on  our  main-boom !" 

"  Did  Mrs.  Drewett  tell  you  this  with  her  own  mouth,  Marble  ?" 

"  That  did  she,  Captain  Wallingford,  for,  while  you  were  dis 
cussing  Neb  and  Chloe,  with  old  Dido,  we,  that  is,  the  doctor, 
the  mother  and  myself,  were  discussing  Andrew  and  Lucy  be 
tween  ourselves.  The  good  old  lady  gave  me  to  understand  it 
was  a  settled  thing,  and  that  she  looked  on  Miss  Ilardinge  al 
ready  as  a  third  daughter." 

This  was  a  strange  subject  for  Mrs.  Drewett  to  discuss  with  a 
man  like  Marble,  or  even  with  Post,  but  some  allowances  were 
to  be  made  for  Marble's  manner  of  viewing  his  own  connection 
with  the  dialogue,  and  more  for  the  excited  condition  of  the 
mother's  feelings.  She  was  scarcely  yet  in  possession  of  all  her 
faculties,  and  might  very  well  commit  an  indiscretion  of  this 
nature,  more  especially  in  her  conversation  with  a  man  in  Post's 
position,  overlooking  or  disregarding  the  presence  of  the  mate. 
The  effect  of  all  that  had  passed  was  to  leave  a  strong  impres 
sion  on  my  mind  that  I  was  too  late.  Lucy  must  be  engaged, 
and  waited  only  to  become  of  age,  in  order  to  make  the  settle 
ments  she  intended  in  favor  of  her  brother,  ere  she  was  married. 
Her  manner  to  myself  was  merely  the  result  of  habit  and  sincere 
friendship,  a  little  increased  in  interest  and  gentleness,  perhaps, 
on  account  of  the  grievous  wrong  she  felt  we  had  received  from 
Rupert.  What  right  had  I  to  complain,  admitting  all  this  to  be 
true  ?  I  had  scarcely  been  aware  of  my  own  passion  for  tho 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  19 

dear  girl,  for  years,  and  had  certainly  never  attempted  to  make 
her  acquainted  with  it.  She  had  made  me  no  pledges,  plighted 
no  faith,  received  no  assurances  of  attachment,  was  under  no  ob 
ligation  to  wait  my  pleasure.  So  sincere  was  my  affection  for 
Lilly,  that  I  rejoiced  even  in  my  misery,  when  I  remembered  that 
not  the  slightest  imputation  could  be  laid  on  her  deportment, 
truth,  or  frankness.  On  the  whole,  it  was  perhaps  the  more 
natural  that  she  should  love  Andrew  Drewett,  one  she  met  for 
the  first  time  after  she  became  of  an  age  to  submit  to  such  im 
pressions,  than  to  love  me,  whom  she  had  been  educated  to  treat 
with  the  familiarity  and  confidence  of  a  brother.  Yes,  I  was 
even  just  enough  to  admit  this. 

The  scene  of  the  morning,  and  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Drewett 
and  her  daughters,  produced  an  entire  change  in  the  spirits  and 
intercourse  of  our  party.  The  ladies  remained  below  most  of 
the  time,  and  as  for  Drewett  himself,  he  Avas  advised  by  Post 
not  to  quit  his  berth  until  he  found  his  strength  restored.  Mr. 
Hardinge  passed  much  time  by  Andrew  Drewett's  side,  offering 
such  attentions  as  might  be  proper  from  a  father  to  a  son.  At 
least  it  so  seemed  to  me.  This  left  Marble  and  myself  in  pos 
session  of  the  quarter-deck,  though  we  had  occasional  visits  from 
all  below — Grace,  Lucy,  and  old  Mrs.  Drewett  cxcepted. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Wallingford  continued  to  ascend  the 
river,  favored  until  evening  by  a  light  southerly  breeze.  She 
outsailed  every  thing,  and,  just  as  the  sun  was  sinking  behind 
the  fine  termination  of  the  Catskill  range  of  mountains,  we  were 
some  miles  above  the  outlet  of  the  stream  that  has  lent  it  its 
name. 

A  lovelier  landscape  can  scarce  be  imagined  than  that  which 
presented  itself  from  the  deck  of  the  sloop.  It  was  the  first 
time  I  had  ascended  the  river,  or,  indeed,  that  any  of  the  Claw- 
bonny  party  had  been  up  it  so  high,  Mr.  Hardinge  excepted ; 
and  everybody  was  called  on  deck  to  look  at  the  beauties  of  the 
hour.  The  sloop  was  about  a  mile  above  Hudson,  and  the 
view  was  to  be  gazed  at  toward  the  south.  This  is,  perhaps, 
the  finest  reach  of  this  very  beautiful  stream,  though  it  is  not 


20  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

the  fashion  to  think  so ;  the  Highlands  being  the  part  usually 
preferred.  It  is  easy  enough  for  nie,  who  have  since  lived  among 
the  sublimity  of  the  Swiss  and  Italian  lakes,  to  understand  that 
there  is  nothing  of  a  very  sublime  character,  relatively  consider 
ed,  in  any  of  the  reaches  of  the  Hudson ;  but  it  would  be  diffi 
cult  to  find  a  river  that  has  so  much  which  is  exquisitely  beau 
tiful  ;  and  this,  too,  of  a  beauty  which  borders  on  the  grand. 
Lucy  was  the  first  person  to  create  any  .doubts  in  my  mind  con 
cerning  the  perfection  of  the  Highlands.  Just  as  the  cockney 
declaims  about  Richmond  Hill — the  inland  view  from  Mont- 
Martre,  of  a  clouded  day,  is  worth  twenty  of  it — but  just  as  the 
provincial  London  cockney  declaims  about  Richmond  Hill,  so 
has  the  provincial  American  been  in  the  habit  of  singing  the 
praises  of  the  Highlands  of  the  Hudson.  The  last  are  sufficient 
ly  striking,  I  will  allow ;  but  they  are  surpassed  in  their  own 
kind  by  a  hundred  known  mountain  landscapes;  while  the  softer 
parts  of  the  river  have  scarcely  a  rival.  Lucy,  I  repeat,  was  tho 
first  person  to  teach  me  this  distinction — Lucy,  who  then  had 
never  seen  either  Alps  or  Apennines.  But  her  eye  was  as  true 
as  her  principles,  her  tongue,  or  her  character.  All  was  truth 
about  this  dear  girl — truth  unadulterated  and  unalloyed. 

"  Certainly,  my  dear  Mrs.  Drewctt,"  the  dear  girl  said,  as  she 
stood  supporting  the  old  lady,  who  leaned  on  her  arm,  gazing 
at  the  glorious  sunset,  "  the  Highlands  have  nothing  to  equal 
this !  To  me  this  seems  all  that  art  could  achieve ;  while  I  con 
fess  the  views  in  the  mountains  have  ever  appeared  to  want 
something  that  the  mind  can  imagine." 

Mrs.  Drewett,  though  a  respectable,  was  a  common-placo 
woman.  She  belonged  to  the  vast  class  that  do  most  of  their 
thinking  by  proxy  ;  and  it  was  a  sort  of  heresy  in  her  eyes  to 
fancy  any  thing  could  surpass  the  Highlands.  Poor  Mrs.  Drew 
ctt  !  She  was  exceedingly  cockney,  without  having  the  slight 
est  suspicion  of  it.  Her  best  ought  to  be  everybody  else's  best. 
She  combated  Lucy's  notion  warmly,  therefore,  protesting  that 
the  Highlands  could  not  have  a  superior.  This  is  a  sort  of  ar 
gument  it  is  not  easy  to  overcome ;  and  her  companion  was  con- 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D  .  21 

tent  to  admire  the  scene  before  her  in  silence,  after  urging  one  or 
two  reasons  in  support  of  her  opinion,  in  her  own  quiet,  unpre 
tending  manner. 

I  overheard  this  little  argument,  and  was  a  close  observer  of 
the  manner  of  the  parties.  Mrs.  Drewett  was  extremely  indul 
gent,  even  while  warmest,  seeming  to  me  to  resist  Lucy's  opin 
ion  as  an  affectionate  mother  would  contend  with  the  mistaken 
notions  of  a  very  favorite  child.  On  the  other  hand,  Lucy  ap 
peared  confiding,  and  spoke  as  the  young  of  her  sex  are  most 
apt  to  do,  when  they  utter  their  thoughts  to  ears  they  feel  must 
be  indulgent. 

A  sunset  cannot  last  forever ;  and  even  this,  sweet  as  it  had 
been,  soon  became  tame  and  tasteless  to  me.  As  the  ladies  now 
disappeared,  I  determined  to  anchor,  the  wind  failing,  and  the 
tide  coming  ahead.  Marble  and  myself  had  a  sort  of  state 
room  fitted  up  for  us  in  the  hold ;  and  thither  I  was  glad  to  re 
tire,  standing  really  in  need  of  rest,  after  the  terrible  exertions 
of  that  day.  What  passed  in  the  cabins  that  evening,  I  had  no 
opportunity  of  knowing,  though  I  heard  laughing,  and  happy 
female  voices,  through  the  bulkheads,  hours  after  my  own  head 
was  on  its  pillow.  When  Marble  came  down  to  turn  in,  he  told 
me  the  cabin  party  had  revived,  and  that  there  had  been  much 
pleasant  discourse  among  the  young  people ;  and  this  in  a  way 
to  cause  even  him  to  derive  great  satisfaction  as  a  listener. 

Neb  gave  us  a  call  at  daylight.  The  wind  was  fresh  at  west- 
north-west,  but  the  tide  was  just  beginning  to  run  on  the  flood. 
I  was  so  impatient  to  be  rid  of  my  guests,  that  all  hands  were 
called  immediately,  and  we  got  the  sloop  under  way.  The  pilot 
professed  himself  willing  to  beat  up  through  the  narrow  passages 
above,  and  the  Wallingford's  greatest  performance  being  on  the 
wind,  I  was  determined  to  achieve  my  deliverance  that  very 
tide.  The  sloop  drew  more  water  than  was  usual  for  the  up- 
river  craft,  it  is  true ;  but  she  was  light,  and,  just  at  the  mo 
ment,  could  go  wherever  the  loaded  Albany  vessels  went.  Those 
were  not  the  days  of  vast  public  works ;  and,  as  for  sea-going 
craft,  none  had  ever  crossed  the  Overslaugh,  so  far  as  had  conio 


22  MILES     W  A  L  L I  X G  F  O  R  D . 

to  my  knowledge.  Times  have  changed  greatly  since  ;  but  the 
reader  will  remember  I  am  writing  of  that  remote  period  in 
American  history,  the  year  of  our  Lord  1803. 

The  anchor  was  no  sooner  awei<?h,  than  the  deck  became  a 

O      ' 

scene  of  activity.  The  breeze  was  stiff,  and  it  enabled  me  to 
show  the  Wallingford  off  to  advantage  among  the  dull,  flat- 
bottomed  craft  of  that  day.  There  were  reaches  in  which  the 
wind  favored  us,  too ;  and,  by  the  time  the  ladies  reappeared, 
we  were  up  among  the  islands,  worming  our  way  through  the 
narrow  channels  with  rapidity  and  skill.  To  me,  and  to  Marble 
also,  the  scene  was  entirely  novel ;  and  between  the  activity  that 
our  evolutions  required,  and  the  constant  change  of  scene,  we 
had  little  leisure  to  attend  to  those  in  the  cabin.  Just  as  break 
fast  was  announced,  indeed,  the  vessel  was  approaching  the 
more  difficult  part  of  the  river ;  and  all  we  got  of  that  meal, 
we  took  on  deck,  at  snatches,  between  the  many  tacks  we 
made.  As  good  luck  would  have  it,  however,  the  wind  backed 
more  to  the  westward  about  eight  o'clock ;  and  we  were  en 
abled  to  stem  the  ebb  that  began  to  make  at  the  same  time. 
This  gave  us  the  hope  of  reaching  the  end  of  our  passage  with 
out  again  anchoring. 

At  length  we  reached  the  Overslaugh,  which,  as  was  apt  to 
be  the  case,  was  well  sprinkled  with  vessels  aground.  The  pilot 
carried  us  through  them  all,  however ;  if  not  literally  with  fly 
ing  colors,  which  would  have  been  regarded  as  an  insult  by  the 
less  fortunate,  at  least  with  complete  success.  Then  Albany 
came  into  view,  leaning  against  its  sharp  acclivity,  and.  spread 
ing  over  its  extensive  bottom-land.  It  was  not  the  town  it  is 
to-day,  by  quite  three  fourths  less  in  dwellings  and  people ;  but 
it  was  then,  as  now,  one  of  the  most  picturesque-looking  places 
in  America.  There  is  no  better  proof,  in  its  way,  how  much 
more  influence  the  talking  and  writing  part  of  mankind  have 
than  the  mere  actors,  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  relative  consid 
eration  of  Albany,  on  the  scale  of  appearance  and  position,  as 
compared  with  those  enjoyed  by  a  hundred  other  towns,  more 
especially  in  the  Eastern  States.  Almost  without  a  competitor, 


MILES     WALLINGFOUD.  23 

as  to  beauty  of  situation,  or  at  least  on  a  level  with  Richmond 
and  Burlington,  among  the  inland  towns,  it  was  usually  esteem 
ed  a  Dutch  place  that  every  pretender  was  at  liberty  to  deride, 
in  my  younger  days.  We  are  a  people  by  no  means  addicted 
to  placing  our  candle  under  the  bushel,  and  yet  I  cannot  recall 
a  single  civil  expression  in  any  native  writer  touching  the  beau 
ties  of  Albany.  It  may  have  been  owing  to  the  circumstance 
that  so  much  of  the  town  was  under  the  hill  at  the  beginning 
of  the  century,  and  that  strangers  had  few  opportunities  of  see 
ing  it  to  advantage ;  but  I  rather  think  its  want  of  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  origin  was  the  principal  reason  it  was  so  little  in  favor. 

Glad  enough  was  I  to  reach  the  wharves,  with  their  line  of 
storehouses,  that  then  literally  spouted  wheat  into  the  sloops 
that  crowded  the  quays,  on  its  way  to  feed  the  contending 
armies  of  Europe.  Late  as  it  was  in  the  season,  wheat  was 
still  pouring  outward  through  all  the  channels  of  the  country, 
enriching  the  farmers  with  prices  that  frequently  rose  as  high 
as  two  dollars  and  a  half  the  bushel,  and  sometimes  as  high  as 
three.  Yet  no  one  was  so  poor  in  America  as  to  want  bread  ! 
The  dearer  the  grain,  the  higher  the  wages  of  the  laborer,  and 
the  better  he  lived. 

It  was  not  at  all  late  when  the  Wallingford  was  slowly  ap 
proaching  the  wharf  where  it  was  intended  to  bring-up.  There 
was  a  sloop  ahead  of  us,  which  we  had  been  gradually  ap 
proaching  for  the  last  two  hours,  but  which  was  enabled  to 
keep  in  advance  in  consequence  of  the  lightness  of  the  wind. 
This  dying  away  of  the  breeze  rendered  the  approaching  noon 
tide  calm  and  pleasant ;  and  everybody  in-board,  even  to  Grace, 
came  on  deck,  as  we  moved  slowly  past  the  dwellings  on  the 
eastern  bank,  in  order  to  get  a  view  of  the  town.  I  proposed 
that  the  Clawbonny  party  should  land,  contrary  to  our  original 
intention,  and  profit  by  the  opportunity  to  see  the  political  cap 
ital  of  the  state  at  our  leisure.  Both  Grace  and  Lucy  were  in 
clined  to  listen  favorably ;  and  the  Drewctts,  Andrew  and  his 
sisters,  were  delighted  at  this  prospect  of  our  remaining  to 
gether  a  little  longer.  Just  at  this  moment,  the  Wallingford, 


24  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

true  to  her  character,  was  coming  up  with  the  sloop  ahead,  and 
was  already  doubling  on  her  quarter.  I  was  giving  some  or 
ders,  when  Lucy  and  Chloc,  supporting  Grace,  passed  me  on 
their  way  to  the  cabin.  My  poor  sister  was  pale  as  death,  and 
I  could  see  that  she  trembled  so  much  she  could  hardly  walk. 
A  significant  glance  from  Lucy  bade  me  not  to  interfere,  and  I 
had  sufficient  self-command  to  obey.  I  turned  to  look  at  the 
neighboring  sloop,  and  found  at  once  an  explanation  of  my  sis 
ter's  agitation.  The  Mertons  and  Rupert  were  on  her  quarter 
deck,  and  so  near  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  avoid  speaking, 
at  least  to  the  former.  At  this  embarrassing  instant  Lucy  re 
turned  to  my  side,  with  a  view,  as  I  afterward  learned,  to  urge 
me  to  carry  the  Wallingford  to  some  place  so  distant,  as  to  re 
move  the  danger  of  any  intercourse.  This  accident  rendered 
the  precaution  useless,  the  whole  party  in  the  other  vessel  catch 
ing  sight  of  my  companion  at  the  same  moment. 

"  This  is  an  agreeable  surprise  !"  called  out  Emily,  in  whose 
eyes  Rupert's  sister  could  not  be  an  object  of  indifference. 
"  By  your  brother's  and  Mrs.  Drewctt's  account,  we  had  sup 
posed  you  at  Clawbonny,  by  the  bedside  of  Miss  Walling 
ford." 

"  Miss  Wallingford  is  here,  as  arc  my  father,  and  Mrs.  Drew- 
ctt,  and"— 

Lucy  never  let  it  be  known  who  that  other  "  and"  was  in 
tended  to  include. 

"  Wel^  this  is  altogether  surprising !"  put  in  Rupert,  with  a 
steadiness  of  voice  that  really  astounded  me.  "At  the  very 
moment  we  were  giving  you  lots  of  credit  for  your  constancy  in 
friendship,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  here  you  are,  Mademoiselle 
Lucie,  trotting  off  to  the  Springs,  like  all  the  rest  of  us,  bent  on 
pleasure." 

"  No,  Rupert,"  answered  Lucy,  in  a  tone  which  I  thought 
could  not  fail  to  bring  the  heartless  coxcomb  to  some  sense  of 
the  feeling  he  ought  to  manifest ;  "  I  am  going  to  no  Springs. 
Doctor  Post  has  advised  a  change  of  scene  and  air  for  Grace ; 
and  Miles  has  brought  us  all  up  in  his  sloop,  that  we  may  en 


MILES      W  A  LLINOFOKD.  25 

dcavor  to  contribute  to  the  dear  sufferer's  comfort,  in  one  united 
family.  We  shall  not  land  in  Albany." 

I  took  my  cue  from  these  last  words,  and  understood  that  I 
was  not  even  to  bring  the  sloop  alongside  the  wharf. 

"  Upon  my  word,  it  is  just  as  she  says,  colonel !"  cried  Ru 
pert,  "  I  can  see  my  father  on  the  forecastle,  with  Post,  and 
divers  others  of  rny  acquaintance.  Ay — and  there's  Drewett, 
as  I  live  !  Wallingford,  too  !  How  fare  you,  noble  captain,  up 
in  this  fresh-water  stream  ?  You  must  be  strangely  out  of  your 
latitude." 

"  How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Ilardinge  ?"  I  coldly  returned  the 
salutation  ;  and  then  I  was  obliged  to  speak  to  the  major  and 
his  daughter.  But  Neb  was  at  the  helm,  and  I  had  given  him 
a  sign  to  sheer  further  from  our  companion.  This  soon  reduced 
the  intercourse  to  a  few  wavings  of  handkerchiefs,  and  kissings 
of  the  hand,  in  which  all  the  Drewetts  came  in  for  a  share.  As 
for  Lucy,  she  walked  aside,  and  I  seized  the  occasion  to  get  a 
word  in  private. 

"  "What  am  I  to  do  with  the  sloop  ?"  I  asked.  "  It  will  soon 
be  necessary  to  come  to  some  decision." 

"  By  no  means  go  to  the  wharf.  Oh !  this  has  been  most 
cruel.  The  cabin  windows  are  open,  and  Grace  must  have  heard 
every  syllable.  Not  even  a  question  as  to  her  health  !  I  dread 
to  go  below  and  witness  the  effect." 

I  wished  not  to  speak  of  Rupert  to  his  sister,  and  avoided  the 
subject.  The  question,  therefore,  was  simply  repeated.  Lucy 
inquired  if  it  were  not  possible  to  land  our  passengers  without 
bringing-up,  and,  hearing  the  truth  on  the  subject,  she  renewed 
her  entreaties  not  to  land.  Room  was  taken  accordingly,  and 
the  sloop,  as  soon  as  high  enough,  was  roundcd-to,  and  the 
l>oat  lowered.  The  portmanteau  of  Post  was  placed  in  it,  and 
the  Drewetts  were  told  that  every  thing  was  ready  to  put  them 
ashore. 

"  Surely  we  arc  not  to  part  thus!"  exclaimed  the  old  lady. 
"  You  intend  to  land,  Lucy,  if  not  to  accompany  us  to  Ball- 
ston?  The  waters  might  prove  of  service  to  Miss  Wallingford." 


26  MILES     WALLINOFORO. 

"Doctor  Post  thinks  not,  but  advises  us  to  return  tranquilly 
down  the  river.  We  may  yet  go  as  far  as  Sandy  Hook,  or 
even  into  the  Sound.  It  all  depends  on  dear  Grace's  strength 
and  inclinations." 

Protestations  of  regret  and  disappointment  followed,  for 
everybody  appeared  to  think  much  of  Lucy,  and  very  little  of 
my  poor  sister.  Some  attempts  were  even  made  at  persuasion ; 
but  the  quiet  firmness  of  Lucy  soon  convinced  her  friends  that 
she  was  not  to  be  diverted  from  her  purpose.  Mr.  Ilardingc, 
too,  had  a  word  to  say  in  confirmation  of  his  daughter's  decis 
ion  ;  and  the  travellers  reluctantly  prepared  to  enter  the  boat. 
After  he  had  assisted  his  mother  over  the  sloop's  side,  Andrew 
Drewett  turned  to  me,  and  in  fair,  gentleman-like,  manly  lan 
guage,  expressed  his  sense  of  the  service  I  had  rendered  him. 
After  this  acknowledgment,  the  first  he  had  made,  I  could  do 
no  less  than  shake  his  hand;  and  we  parted  in  the  manner 
of  those  who  have  conferred  and  received  a  favor. 

I  could  perceive  that  Lucy's  color  heightened,  and  that  she 
looked  exceedingly  gratified,  while  this  little  scene  was  in  the 
course  of  being  acted,  though  I  was  unable  to  comprehend  the 
precise  feeling  that  was  predominant  in  her  honest  and  truthful 
heart.  Did  that  increased  color  proceed  from  pleasure  at  the 
handsome  manner  in  which  Drewett  acquitted  himself  of  one 
of  the  most  embarrassing  of  all  our  duties — the  admission  of  a 
deep  obligation  ?  or  was  it  in  any  manner  connected  with  her 
interest  in  me  ?  I  could  not  ask,  and  of  course  did  not  learn. 
This  scene,  however,  terminated  our  intercourse  with  the  Drew- 
ctts,  for  the  moment,  the  boat  pulling  away  immediately  after. 


MILES      WALLINGFOKD.  27 


CHAPTER  II. 

"Misplaced  in  life, 

I  know  not  what  I  could  have  been,  but  foci 
I  ain  not  what  I  should  be — let  it  end." 

SAEDANAPALrS. 

GLAD  enough,  was  I  to  find  the  quiet  and  domestic  character 
of  my -vessel  restored.  Lucy  had  vanished  as  soon  as  it  was 
proper,  but,  agreeably  to  her  request,  I  got  the  sloop's  head 
down-stream,  and  began  our  return  passage,  without  even  think 
ing  of  putting  a  foot  on  the  then  unknown  land  of  Albany. 
Marble  was  too  much  accustomed  to  submit  without  inquiry  to 
the  movements  of  the  vessel  he  was  in  to  raise  any  objections, 
and  the  Wallingford,  her  boat  in  tow,  was  soon  turning  down 
with  the  tide,  aided  by  a  light  westerly  wind,  on  her  home 
ward  course.  This  change  kept  all  on  deck  so  busy,  that  it  was 
some  little  time  ere  I  saw  Lucy  again.  When  AVC  did  meet, 
however,  I  found  her  sad,  and  fall  of  apprehension.  Grace  had 
evidently  been  deeply  hurt  by  Rupert's  deportment.  The  effect 
on  her  frame  was  such,  that  it  was  desirable  to  let  her  be  as  lit 
tle  disturbed  as  possible.  Lucy  hoped  she  might  fall  asleep,  for, 
like  an  infant,  her  exhausted  physical  powers  sought  relief  in 
this  resource,  almost  as  often  as  the  state  of  her  mind  would  per 
mit.  Her  existence,  although  I  did  not  then  know  it,  was  like 
that  of  the  flame  which  flickers  in  the  air,  and  which  is  endan 
gered  by  the  slightest  increase  of  the  current  to  which  the  lamp 
may  be  exposed. 

We  succeeded  in  getting  across  the  Overslaugh  without  touch 
ing,  and  had  got  down  among  the  islands  below  Cocjiman's,* 

*  Queeman's,  as  pronounced.  This  is  a  Dutch,  not  an  Indian  name,  and  belongs  to  a 
respectable  New  York  family. 


28  MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  1!  D . 

when  we  were  met  by  the  new  flood.  Trie  wind  dying  away  to 
a  calm,  we  were  compelled  to  select  a  berth,  and  anchor.  As 
soon  as  we  were  snug,  I  sought  an  interview  with  Lucy,  but  the 
dear  girl  sent  me  word  by  Chloc  that  Grace  was  dozing,  and 
that  she  could  not  see  me  just  at  that  moment,  as  her  presence 
in  the  cabin  was  necessary  in  order  to  maintain  silence.  On  re 
ceiving  this  message,  I  ordered  the  boat  hauled  up  alongside ; 
Marble,  myself,  and  Neb  got  in;  when  the  black  sculled  us  ashore 
— Chloe  grinning  at  the  lattcr's  dexterity,  as  with  one  hand  and 
a  mere  play  of  the  wrist  he  caused  the  water  to  foam  under  the 
bows  of  our  little  bark. 

The  spot  where  we  landed  was  a  small  but  lovely  gravelly 
cove,  that  was  shaded  by  three  or  four  enormous  weeping-wil 
lows,  and  presented  the  very  picture  of  peace  and  repose.  It 
was  altogether  a  retired  and  rural  bit,  there  being  near  it  »o 
regular  landing,  no  reels  for  seines,  nor  any  of  those  signs  that 
denote  a  place  of  resort.  A  single  cottage  stood  on  a  small  nat 
ural  terrace,  elevated  some  ten  or  twelve  feet  above  the  rich  bot 
tom  that  sustained  the  willows.  This  cottage  was  the  very  Icau 
ideal  of  rustic  neatness  and  home  comfort.  It  was  of  stone, 
one  story  in  height,  with  a  high  pointed  roof,  and  had  a  Dutch- 
looking  gable  that  faced  the  river,  and  which  contained  the 
porch  and  outer  door.  The  stones  were  white  as  the  driven 
snow,  having  been  washed  a  few  weeks  before.  The  windows 
had  the  charm  of  irregularity,  and  every  thing  about  the  dwell 
ing  proclaimed  a  former  century,  and  a  regime  different  from 
that  under  which  we  were  then  living.  In  fact,  the  figures 
]698,  let  in  as  iron  braces  to  the  wall  of  the  gable,  announced 
that  the  house  was  quite  as  old  as  the  second  structure  at  Claw- 
bonny. 

The  garden  of  this  cottage  was  not  large,  but  it  was  in  ad 
mirable  order.  It  lay  entirely  in  the  rear  of  the  dwelling;  and 
behind  it,  again,  a  small  orchard,  containing  about  a  hundred 
trees,  on  which  the  fruit  began  to  show  itself  in  abundance,  lay 
against  the  sort  of  amphitheatre  that  almost  enclosed  this  little 
nook  against  the  intrusion  and  sight  of  the  rest  of  the  world. 


MILES      AVALLINOFORD.  29 

There  were  also  half  a  dozen  huge  cherry  trees,  from  which  the 
fruit  had  not  yet  altogether  disappeared,  near  the  house,  to 
which  they  served  the  double  purpose  of  ornament  and  shade. 
The  out-houses  seemed  to  be  as  old  as  the  dwelling,  and  were 
in  quite  as  good  order. 

As  we  drew  near  the  shore,  I  directed  Neb  to  cease  sculling, 
and  sat  gazing  at  this  picture  of  retirement,  and,  apparently,  of 
content,  while  the  boat  drew  toward  the  gravelly  beach,  under 
the  impetus  already  received. 

"  This  is  a  hermitage  I  think  I  could  stand,  Miles,"  said  Mar 
ble,  whose  look  had  not  been  off  the  spot  since  the  moment  we 
left  the  sloop's  side.  "  This  is  what  I  should  call  a  human  hermit 
age,  and  none  of  your  out  and  out  solitudes.  Room  for  pigs  and 
poultry ;  a  nice  gravelly  beach  for  your  boat ;  good  fishing  in 
the  offing,  I'll  answer  for  it ;  a  snug  shouldcr-of-mutton  sort  of 
a  house  ;  trees  as  big  as  a  two-decker's  lower  masts ;  and  com 
pany  Avithin  hail,  should  a  fellow  happen  to  take  it  into  his 
head  that  he  was  getting  melancholy.  This  is  just  the  spot  1 
would  like  to  fetch-up  in,  when  it  became  time  to  go  into  dock. 
What  a  place  to  smoke  a  cigar  in  is  that  bench  up  yonder,  under 
the  cherry  tree ;  and  grog  must  have  a  double  flavor  alongside 
of  that  spring  of  fresh  water !" 

"  You  could  become  the  owner  of  this  very  place,  Moses,  and 
then  we  should  be  neighbors,  and  might  visit  each  other  by 
water.  It  cannot  be  much  more  than  fifty  miles  from  this  spot 
to  Clawbonny." 

"  .1  dare  say,  now,  that  they  would  think  of  asking,  for  a  place 
like  this,  as  much  money  as  would  buy  a  good  wholesome  ship 
— a  regular  A  No.  1." 

"  No  such  thing ;  a  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  dollars  would 
purchase  the  house,  and  all  the  land  we  can  sec — some  twelve 
or  fifteen  acres,  at  the  most.  You  have  more  than  two  thousand 
salted  away,  I  know,  Moses,  between  prize  money,  wages,  adven 
tures,  and  other  matters." 

"  I  could  hold  my  head  up  under  two  thousand,  of  a  sartainty. 
I  wish  the  place  was  a  little  nearer  Clawbonny,  say  eight  or  ten 


30  MILES      WALLINOFORD. 

miles  off;  and  then  I  do  think  I  should  talk  to  the  people  about 
a  trade." 

"  It's  quite  unnecessary,  after  all.  I  have  quite  as  snug  a 
cove,  near  the  creek  bluff  at  Clawbonny,  and  will  build  a  house 
for  you  there,  you  shall  not  tell  from  a  ship's  cabin  ;  that  would 
bo  more  to  your  fancy." 

"  I've  thought  of  that,  too,  Miles,  and  at  one  time  fancied  it 
vrould  be  a  prettyish  sort  of  an  idee ;  but  it  won't  stand  loga 
rithms,  at  all.  You  may  build  a  room  that  shall  have  its  cabin 
look,  but  you  can't  build  one  that'll  have  a  cabin  natur\  You 
may  get  carlins,  and  transoms,  and  lockers,  and  bulkheads  all 
right ;  but  where  are  you  to  get  your  motion  ?  What's  a  cabin 
without  motion  ?  It  would  soon  be  like  the  sea  in  the  calm 
latitudes,  offensive  to  the  senses.  No !  none  of  your  bloody 
motionless  cabins  for  me.  If  I'm  afloat,  let  me  be  afloat ;  if  I'm 
a-imre,  let  me  be  ashore." 

Ashore  we  were  by  this  time,  the  boat's  keel  grinding  gently 
on  the  pebbles  of  the  beach.  We  landed  and  walked  toward 
the  cottage,  there  being  nothing  about  the  place  to  forbid  our 
taking  this  liberty.  I  told  Marble  we  would  ask  for  a  drink  of 
milk,  two  cows  being  in  sight,  cropping  the  rich  herbage  of  a 
beautiful  little  pasture.  This  expedient  at  first  seemed  unneces 
sary,  no  one  appearing  about  the  place  to  question  our  motives, 
or  to  oppose  our  progress.  When  we  had  reached  the  door  of 
the  cottage,  we  found  it  open,  and  could  look  within  without 
violating  any  of  the  laws  of  civilization.  There  was  no  vesti 
bule,  or  entry;  but  the  door  communicated  directly  with  a 
room  of  some  size,  and  which  occupied  the  whole  front  of  the 
building.  I  dare  say  this  single  room  was  twenty  feet  square, 
besides  being  of  a  height  a  little  greater  than  was  then  custom 
ary  in  buildings  of  that  class.  This  apartment  was  neatness 
itself.  It  had  a  home-made,  but  really  pretty  carpet  on  the 
floor;  contained  a  dozen  old-fashioned,  high-back  chairs,  in 
some  dark  wood ;  two  or  three  tables,  in  which  one  might  see 
his  face ;  a  couple  of  mirrors  of  no  great  size,  but  of  quaint 
gilded  ornaments ;  a  bcaufct  with  some  real  china  in  it ;  and  tin) 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  31 

other  usual  articles  of  a  country  residence  that  was  somewhat 
above  the  ordinary  farm-houses  of  the  region,  and  yet  us  much 
below  the  more  modest  of  the  abodes  of  the  higher  class.  I 
supposed  the  cottage  to  be  the  residence  of  some  small  family 
that  had  seen  more  of  life  than  was  customary  with  the  mere 
husbandman,  and  yet  not  enough  to  raise  it  much  above  the 
level  of  the  husbandman's  homely  habits. 

We  were  looking  in  from  the  porch  on  this  scene  of  rural 
peace  and  faultless  neatness,  when  an  inner  door  opened  in  tho 
deliberate  manner  that  betokens  age,  and  the  mistress  of  the 
cottage  appeared.  She  was  a  woman  approaching  seventy,  of 
middle  size,  a  quiet,  but  firm  step,  and  an  air  of  health.  Hei 
dress  was  of  the  fashion  of  the  previous  century,  plain,  but  as 
neat  as  every  thing  around  her — a  spotless  Avhitc  apron  seeming 
to  bid  defiance  to  the  approach  of  any  thing  that  could  soil  its 
purity.  The  countenance  of  this  old  woman  certainly  did  not 
betoken  any  of  the  refinement  which  is  the  result  of  education 
and  good  company ;  but  it  denoted  benevolence,  a  kind  nature, 
and  feeling.  We  Averc  saluted  without  surprise,  and  invited  in, 
to  be  seated. 

"  It  isn't  often  that  sloops  anchor  here,"  said  the  old  woman 
— lady  it  would  be  a  stretch  of  politeness  to  call  her — "  their 
favoryte  places  being  higher  up,  and  lower  down,  the  river." 

"  And  how  do  you  account  for  that,  mother  ?"  asked  Marble, 
who  seated  himself  and  addressed  the  mistress  of  the  cottage 
with  a  seaman's  frankness.  "To  my  fancy,  this  is  .the  best  an 
chorage  I've  seen  in  many  a  day — one  altogether  to  be  coveted. 
One  might  be  as  much  alone  as  he  liked  in  a  spot  like  this,  with 
out  absolutely  turning  your  bloody  hermit." 

The  old  woman  gazed  at  Marble  like  one  who  scarce  knew 
what  to  make  of  such  an  animal ;  and  yet  her  look  was  mild 
and  indulgent. 

"  I  account  for  the  boatmen's  preferring  other  places  to  this," 
she  said,  "  by  the  circumstance  that  there  is  no  tavern  here; 
while  there  is  one  two  miles  above,  and  another  two  miles  bo- 
low  us." 


32  MILKS      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D  . 

"  Your  remark  that  there  is  no  tavern  Lore,  reminds  me  of 
the  necessity  of  apologizing  for  coming  so  boldly  to  your  door," 
I  answered ;  "  but  we  sailors  mean  no  impertinence,  though  we 
are  so  often  guilty  of  it  in  landing." 

"  You  arc  heartily  welcome.  I  am  glad  to  see  them  that  un 
derstand  how  to  treat  an  old  woman  kindly,  and  know  how  to 
pity  and  pardon  them  that  do  not.  At  my  time  of  life  we  get 
to  learn  the  value  of  fair  words  and  good  treatment,  for  it's  only 
a  short  time  it  will  be  in  our  power  to  show  cither  to  our  fellow- 
creatures." 

"  Your  favorable  disposition  to  your  fellows  comes  from  liv 
ing  all  your  days  in  a  spot  as  sweet  as  this." 

"  I  would  much  rather  think  that  it  comes  from  God.  He 
alone  is  the  source  of  all  that  is  good  within  us." 

"  Yet  a  spot  like  this  must  have  its  influence  on  a  character. 
I  dare  say  you  have  lived  long  in  this  very  house,  which,  old  as 
you  profess  to.^^e,  seems  to  be  much  older  than  yourself.  It 
has  probably  been  your  abode  ever  since  your  marriage  ?" 

"  And  long  before,  sir.  I  was  born  in  this  house,  as  was  my 
father  before  me.  You  arc  light  in  saying  that  I  have  dwelt  iu 
it  ever  since  my  marriage,  for  I  dwelt  in  it  long  before." 

"  This  is  not  very  encouraging  for  my  friend  here,  who  took 
such  a  fancy  to  your  cottage,  as  we  came  ashore,  as  to  wish  to 
own  it ;  but  I  scarce  think  he  will  venture  to  purchase,  now  he 
knows  how  dear  it  must  be  to  you." 

"  And  has  your  friend  no  home — no  place  in  which  to  put  his 
family?" 

"  Neither  home  nor  family,  my  good  mother,"  answered  Mar 
ble  for  himself ;  "and  so  much  the  greater  reason,  you  will 
think,  why  I  ought  to  begin  to  think  of  getting  both  as  soon  as 
possible.  I  never  had  father  or  mother,  to  my  knowledge ;  nor 
house,  nor  home  of  any  sort,  but  a  ship.  I  forgot ;  I  was  a  her 
mit  once,  and  set  myself  up  in  that  trade,  with  a  whole  island 
to  myself;  but  I  soon  gave  up  all  to  natur',  and  got  out  of  that 
scrape  as  fast  as  I  could.  The  business  didn't  suit  me." 

The  old. woman  looked  at  Marble  intently.     I  could  see  by 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  33 

her  countenance  that  the  ofl-hand,  sincere,  earnest  manner  of 
the  mate  had  taken  some  unusual  hold  of  her  feelings. 

"  Hermit !"  the  good  woman  repeated  with  curiosity  ;  "  I 
have  often  heard  and  read  of  such  people  ;  but  you  are  not  at 
all  like  them  I  have  fancied  to  he  hermits." 

"  Another  proof  I  undertook  a  business  for  which  I  was  not 
lit.  I  suppose  a  man  before  he  sets  up  for  a  hermit  ought  to 
know  something  of  his  ancestors,  as  one  looks  to  the  pedigree 
of  a  horse  in  order  to  find  out  whether  he  is  fit  for  a  racer. 
Now,  as  I  happen  to  know  nothing  of  mine,  it  is  no  wonder  I 
fell  into  a  mistake.  It's  an  awkward  thing,  old  lady,  for  a  man 
to  be  born  without  a  name." 

The  eye  of  our  hostess  was  still  bright  and  full  of  anima 
tion,  and  I  never  saw  a  keener  look  than  she  fastened  on  the 
mate,  as  he  delivered  himself  in  this,  one  of  his  usual  fits  of 
misanthropical  feeling. 

"  And  were  yoy,  born  without  a  name  ?"  she  asked,  after  gaz 
ing  intently  at  the  other. 

"  Sartain.  Everybody  is  born  with  only  one  name ;  but  I 
happened  to  be  born  without  any  name  at  all." 

"  This  is  so  extr'or'nary,  sir,"  added  our  old  hostess,  more  in 
terested  than  I  could  have  supposed  possible  for  a  stranger  to 
become  in  Marble's  rough  bitterness,  "  that  I  should  like  to  hear 
how  such  a  thing  could  be." 

"  I  am  quite  ready  to  tell  you  all  about  it,  mother ;  but  as 
one  good  turn  deserves  another,  I  shall  ask  you  first  to  an 
swer  me  a  few  questions  about  the  ownership  of  this  house,  and 
cove,  and  orchard.  When  you  have  told  your  story,  I  am  ready 
to  tell  mine." 

"  I  see  how  it  is,"  said  the  old  Avoman,  in  alarm.  "  You 
arc  sent  here  by  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  to  inquire  about  the  money 
due  on  the  mortgage,  and  to  learn  whether  it  is  likely  to  be 
paid  or  not." 

"  We  are  not  sent  here  at  all,  my  good  old  lady,"  I  UOAV 
thought  it  time  to  interpose,  for  the  poor  woman  was  very 
obviously  much  alarmed,  and  in  a  distress  that  even  her  aged 


84  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

and  wrinkled  countenance  could  not  entirely  conceal.  "We 
are  just  what  you  see — people  belonging  to  that  sloop,  who 
have  come  ashore  to  stretch  their  legs,  and  have  never  heard  of 
any  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  or  any  money,  or  any  mortgage." 

"  Thank  Heaven  for  that !"  exclaimed  the  old  woman,  seem 
ing  to  relieve  her  mind,  as  well  as  body,  by  a  heavy  sigh. 
"  'Squire  Van  Tassel  is  a  hard  man ;  and  a  Avidow  woman, 
with  no  relative  at  hand  but  a  grand-darter  that  is  just  sixteen, 
is  scarce  able  to  meet  him.  My  poor  old  husband  always 
maintained  that  the  money  had  been  paid ;  but,  now  he  is  dead 
and  gone,  'Squire  Van  Tassel  brings  forth  the  bond  and  mort 
gage,  and  says,  '  If  you  can  prove  that  these  are  paid,  I'm  will 
ing  to  give  them  up.'  " 

"  This  is  so  strange  an  occurrence,  my  dear  old  lady,"  I  ob 
served,  "  that  you  have  only  to  make  us  acquainted  with  the 
facts,  to  get  another  supporter  in  addition  to  your  grand-daugh 
ter.  It  is  true,  I  am  a  stranger,  and  have  cowc  here  purely  by 
accident;  but  Providence  sometimes  appears  to  work  in  this  mys 
terious  manner,  and  I  have  a  strong  presentiment  we  may  be  of 
use  to  you.  Relate  your  difficulties,  then  ;  and  you  shall  have 
the  best  legal  advice  in  the  state,  should  your  case  require  it." 

The  old  woman  seemed  embarrassed ;  but,  at  the  same  time, 
she  seemed  touched.  We  were  utter  strangers  to  her,  it  is 
true ;  yet  there  is  a  language  in  sympathy  which  goes  beyond 
that  of  the  tongue,  and  which,  coming  from  the  heart,  goes  to 
the  heart.  I  was  quite  sincere  in  my  offers,  and  this  sincerity 
appears  to  have  produced  its  customary  fruits.  I  was  believed ; 
and,  after  wiping  away  a  tear  or  two  that  forced  themselves  into 
her  eyes,  our  hostess  answered  me  as  frankly  as  I  had  offered 
my  aid. 

"  You  do  not  look  like  'Squire  Van  Tassel's  men,  foi  they 
seem  to  me  to  think  the  place  is  theirs  already.  Such  craving, 
covetous  creatur's  I  never  before  laid  eyes  on !  I  hope  I  may 
trust  you  ?" 

"  Depend  on  us,  mother,"  cried  Marble,  giving  the  old  wom 
an  a  cordial  squeeze  of  the  hand.  "  My  heart  is  in  this  busi- 


MILES      WALLING  FORD.  35 

ness,  for  my  mind  was  half  made  up,  at  first  sight,  to  own  this 
spot  myself — by  honest  purchase,  you'll  understand  me,  and 
not  by  any  of  your  land-shark  tricks — and,  such  being  the  case, 
you  can  easily  think  I'm  not  inclined  to  let  this  Mr.  Tassel 
have  it." 

"  It  would  be  almost  as  sorrowful  a  thing  to  sell  this  place,'' 
tho  good  woman  answered,  her  countenance  confirming  all  she 
saul.  in  words,  "  as  to  have  it  torn  from  me  by  knaves.  I  have 
told  you  that  even  my  father  was  bom  in  this  very  house.  I 
was  his  only  child ;  and  when  God  called  him  away,  which  he 
did  about  twelve  years  after  my  marriage,  the  little  farm  came 
to  me,  of  course.  Mine  it  would  have  been  at  this  moment, 
without  let  or  hindrance  of  any  sort,  but  for  a  fault  committed 
in  early  youth.  Ah !  my  friends,  it  is  hopeless  to  do  evil,  and 
expect  to  escape  the  consequences." 

"  The  evil  you  have  done,  my  good  mother,"  returned  Marble, 
endeavoring  to  console  the  poor  creature,  down  whose  cheeks 
the  tears  now  fairly  began  to  run  ;  "  the  evil  you  have  done, 
my  good  mother,  can  be  no  great  matter.  If  it  was  a  question 
about  a  rough  tar  like  myself,  or  even  of  Miles  there,  Avho's  a 
sort  of  sea-saint,  something  might  be  made  of  it,  I  make  no 
doubt ;  but  your  account  must  be  pretty  much  all  credit,  and 
no  debtor." 

"  That  is  a  state  that  befalls  none  of  earth,  my  young  friend" 
— Marble  was  young,  compared  to  his  companion,  though  a 
plump  fifty.  "  My  sin  was  no  less  than  to  break  one  of  God's 
commandments." 

I  could  see  that  my  mate  was  a  good  deal  confounded  at  this 
ingenuous  admission  ;  for,  in  his  eyes,  breaking  the  command 
ments  was  either  killing,  stealing,  or  blaspheming.  The  other 
sins  of  the  decalogue  he  had  come  by  habit  to  regard  as  pecca 
dilloes. 

"  I  think  this  must  be  a  mistake,  mother,"  he  said,  in  a  sort 
of  consoling  tone.  "  You  may  have  fallen  into  some  oversights, 
or  mistakes  ;  but  this  breaking  of  the  commandments  is  rather 
serious  sort  of  work." 


30  MILES      AV  A  L  L  I  N  0;  F  O  R  D . 

"  Yet  I  broke  the  fifth ;  1  forgot  to  honor  my  father  am! 
mother.  Nevertheless,  the  Lord  has  been  gracious;  for  my 
days  have  already  reached  thrccscore-and-tcn.  But  this  is  his 
goodness — not  any  merit  of  my  own !" 

"  Is  it  not  a  proof  that  the  error  has  been  forgiven  ?"  I  ven 
tured  to  remark.  "  If  penitence  can  purchase  peace,  I  feel  cer 
tain  you  have  earned  that  relief." 

"  One  never  knows  !  I  think  this  calamity  of  the  mortgage, 
and  the  danger  I  run  of  dying  Avithout  a  roof  to  cover  my  head, 
may  be  all  traced  up  to  that  one  act  of  disobedience.  I  have 
been  a  mother  myself — may  say  I  am  a  mother  now,  for  my 
grand-daughter  is  as  dear  to  me  as  was  her  blessed  mother — 
and  it  is  when  we  look  down,  rather  than  when  AVC  look  vp,  as 
it  might  be,  that  we  get  to  understand  the  true  virtue  of  this 
commandment."  « 

"  If  it  were  impertinent  curiosity  that  instigates  the  question, 
ruy  old  friend,"  I  added,  "  it  would  not  be  in  my  power  to  look 
you  in  the  face,  as  I  do  now,  \vhile  begging  you  to  let  me  know 
your  difficulties.  Tell  them  in  your  own  manner,  but  tell  them 
with  confidence ;  for,  I  repeat,  AVC  have  the  power  to  assist  you, 
and  can  command  the  best  legal  advice  of  the  country." 

Again  the  old  woman  looked  at  me  intently  through  her 
spectacles ;  then,  as  if  her  mind  was  made  up  to  confide  in  our 
honesty,  she  disburdened  it  of  its  secrets. 

"  It  would  be  wrong  to  tell  you  a  part  of  my  story,  Avithout 
telling  you  all,"  she  began ;  "  for  you  might  think  Van  Tassel 
and  his  set  are  alone  to  blame,  while  my  conscience  tells  me 
that  little  has  happened  that  is  not  a  just  punishment  for  my 
great  sin.  You'll  have  patience,  therefore,  AA7ith  an  old  Avoman, 
and  hear  her  whole  tale  ;  for  mine  is  not  a  time  of  life  to  mis 
lead  any.  The  days  of  white-heads  are  numbered ;  and,  Avas  it 
not  for  Kitty,  the  blow  would  not  be  quite  so  hard  on  me. 
You  must  knoAv,  AVC  are  Dutch  by  origin — come  of  the  ancient 
Hollanders  of  the  colony — and  Avere  Van  Duzers  by  name.  It's 
like,  friends,"  added  the  good  woman,  hesitating,  "  that  you  are 
Yankees  by  birth  ?" 


MILES      W  A  L  L  1  N  G  F  0  R  D .  37 

"  I  cannot  say  I  am,"  I  answered,  "  though  of  English  extrac 
tion.  My  family  is  long  of  New  York,  but  it  does  not  mount 
back  quite  as  far  as  the  time  of  the  Hollanders." 

"  And  your  friend  ?  He  is  silent ;  perhaps  he  is  of  New 
England  ?  I  would  not  wish  to  hurt  his  feelings,  for  my  story 
will  bear  a  little  hard,  perhaps,  on  his  love  of  home." 

"  Never  mind  me,  mother,  but  rowsc  it  all  up  like  entered 
cargo,"  said  Marble,  in  his  usual  bitter  way  when  alluding  to 
his  own  birth.  "There's  not  the  man  breathing  that  one 
can  speak  more  freely  before  on  such  matters,  than  Moses 
Marble." 

"  Marble  ! — that's  a  hard  name,"  returned  the  woman,  slightly 
smiling ;  "  but  a  name  is  not  a  heart.  My  parents  were  Dutch ; 
and  you  may  have  heard  how  it  was  before  the  Revolution,  be 
tween  the  Dutch  and  the  Yankees.  Near  neighbors,  they  did 
not  love  each  other.  The  Yankees  said  the  Dutch  were  fools, 
and  the  Dutch  said  the  Yankees  were  knaves.  Now,  as  you  may 
easily  suppose,  I  was  born  before  the  Revolution,  when  King 
George  II.  was  on  the  throne  and  ruled  the  country ;  and 
though  it  was  long  after  the  English  got  to  be  our  masters,  it 
was  before  our  people  had  forgotten  their  language  and  their 
traditions.  My  father  himself  was  born  after  the  English  gov 
ernors  came  among  us,  as  I've  heard  him  say  ;  but  it  mattered 
not  —  he  loved  Holland  to  the  last,  and  the  customs  of  his 
fathers." 

"  All  quite  right,  mother,"  said  Marble,  a  little  impatiently ; 
"  but  what  of  all  that  ?  It's  as  nat'ral  for  a  Dutchman  to  love 
Holland,  as  it  is  for  an  Englishman  to  love  Hollands.  I've  been 
in  the  Low  Countries,  and  must  say  it's  a  muskrat  sort  of  a  life 
the  people  lead  ;  neither  afloat  nor  ashore." 

The  old  woman  regarded  Marble  with  more  respect  after  this 
declaration ;  for,  in  that  day,  a  travelled  man  was  highly  es 
teemed  among  us.  In  her  eyes,  it  was  a  greater  exploit  to  have 
seen  Amsterdam,  than  it  would  now  be  to  visit  Jerusalem.  In 
deed,  it  is  getting  rather  discreditable  to  a  man  of  the  world  not 
to  have  seen  the  Pyramids,  the  Red  Sea,  and  the  Jordan 


38  MILES     W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D . 

"  My  father  loved  it  not  the  less,  though  he  never  saw  the 
land  of  his  ancestors,"  resumed  the  old  woman.  "  Notwith 
standing  the  jealousy  of  the  Yankees,  among  us  Dutch,  and  the 
mutual  dislike,  many  of  the  former  came  among  us  to  seek  thcii 
fortunes.  They  are  not  a  home-staying  people,  it  would  seem ; 
and  I  cannot  deny  that  cases  have  happened  in  Avhich  they  have 
been  known  to  get  away  the  farms  of  some  of  the  Netherlands 
stock,  in  a  way  that  it  would  have  been  better  not  to  have  hap 
pened." 

"You  speak, considerately,  my  dear  woman,"  I  remarked, 
"  and  like  one  that  has  charity  for  all  human  failing." 

"  I  ought  to  do  so  for  my  own  sins,  and  I  ought  to  do  so 
to  them  of  New  England;  for  my  own  husband  was  of  that 
race." 

"  Ay,  now  the  story  is  coming  round  regularly,  Miles,"  said 
Marble,  nodding  his  head .  in  approbation.  "  It  will  touch  on 
love  next,  and,  if  trouble  do  not  follow,  set  me  down  as  an  ill- 
nat'red  old  bachelor.  Love  in  a  man's  heart  is  like  getting 
heated  cotton,  or  shifting  ballast,  into  a  ship's  hold." 

"  I  must  confess  to  it,"  continued  our  hostess,  smiling  in  spite 
of  her  real  sorrows — sorrows  that  were  revived  by  thus  recall 
ing  the  events  of  her  early  life.  "  A  young  man  of  Yankee 
birth  came  among  us  as  a  schoolmaster,  when  I  was  only  fifteen. 
Our  people  were  anxious  enough  to  have  us  all  taught  to  read 
English,  for  many  had  found  the  disadvantage  of  being  ignorant 
of  the  language  of  their  rulers,  and  of  the  laws.  I  was  sent  to 
George  Wetmore's  school,  like  most  of  the  other  young  people 
of  the  neighborhood,  and  remained  his  scholar  for  three  year?. 
If  you  were  on  the  hill  above  the  orchard  yonder,  you  might 
sec  the  school-house  at  this  moment ;  for  it  is  only  a  short  walk 
from  our  place,  and  a  walk  that  I  made  four  times  a  day  for  just 
three  years." 

"  One  can  see  how  the  land  lies  now,"  cried  Marble,  lighting 
i  cigar,  for  he  thought  no  apology  necessary  for  smoking  under 
a  Dutch  roof.  "  The  master  taught  his  scholar  something  more 
than  he  found  in  his  spelling-book,  or  the  catechism.  We'll 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  89 

take  your  word  #bout  the  scliool-liousc,  seeing  it   is  out   of 
view." 

"  It  was  out  of  sight,  truly,  and  that  may  have  been  the  reason 
my  parents  took  it  so  hard  when  George  Wetmorc  asked  their 
leave  to  marry  me.  This  was  not  done  until  he  had  walked 
home  with  me,  or  as  near  home  as  the  brow  of  yon  hill,  for  a 
whole  twelvemonth,  and  had  served  a  servitude  almost  as  long 
and  as  patient  as  that  of  Jacob  for  Rachel." 

"  Well,  mother,  how  did  the  old  people  receive  the  question  ? 
like  good-natured  parents,  I  hope,  for  George's  sake." 

"  Rather  say  like  the  children  of  Holland,  judging  of  the  chil 
dren  of  New  England.  They  would  not  hear  of  it,  but  wished 
me  to  marry  my  own  cousin,  Petrus  Storm,  who  was  not  great 
ly  beloved,  even  in  his  own  family." 

"  Of  course  you  down  anchor,  and  said  you  never  would 
quit  the  moorings  of  home?" 

"  If  I  rightly  understand  you,  sir,  I  did  something  very  dif 
ferent.  I  got  privately  married  to  George,  and  he  kept  school 
near  a  twelvemonth  longer,  up,  behind  the  hill,  though  most 
of  the  young  women  were  taken  away  from  his  teaching." 

"Ay,  the  old  way;  the  door  Avas  locked  after  the  horse  was 
stolen !  "Well,  you  were  married,  mother" — 

"After  a  time,  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  visit  a  kinswoman 
who  lived  a  little  down  the  river.  There  my  first  child  was 
born,  unknown  to  my  parents,  and  George  gave  it  in  charge 
to  a  poor  woman  who  had  lost  her  own  babe,  for  we  were 
still  afraid  to  let  our  secret  be  known  to  my  parents.  Now 
commences  the  punishment 'for  breaking  the  fifth  command 
ment." 

"How's  that,  Miles?"  demanded  Moses.  "Is  it  ag'in  the 
commandments  for  a  married  woman  to  have  a  son  V ' 

"Certainly  not,  my  friend,  though  it  is  a  breach  of  the  com 
mandments  not  to  honor  our  parents.  This  good  woman  al 
ludes  to  her  marrying  contrary  to  the  Avishes  of  her  father  and 
mother." 

"  Indeed  I  do,  sir,  and  dearly  have  I  been  punished  for  it. 


40  MILES     W  A  L  L  I  N  G  V  O  R  D . 

In  a  few  weeks  I  returned  home,  and  was  followed  by  the  sad 
news  of  the  death  of  my  first-born.  The  grief  of  these  tidings 
drew  the  secret  from  me,  and  nature  spoke  so  loud  in  the  hearts 
of  my  poor  parents,  that  they  forgave  all,  took  George  home, 
and  ever  afterward  treated  him  as  if  he  also  had  been  their  own 
child.  But  it  was  too  late ;  had  it  happened  a  few  weeks  earlier, 
my  own  precious  babe  might  have  been  saved  to  me." 

"  You  cannot  know  that,  mother ;  we  all  die  when  our  time 
comes." 

"His  time  had  not  come.  The  miserable  wretch  to  whom 
George  trusted  the  boy,  exposed  him  among  strangers  to  save 
herself  trouble,  and  to  obtain  twenty  dollars  at  as  cheap  a-ratc 
as  possible" — 

"  Hold !"  I  interrupted.  "  In  the  name  of  Heaven,  my  good 
woman,  in  what  year  did  this  occur  ?" 

Marble  looked  at  me  in  astonishment,  though  he  clearly  had 
glimpses  of  the  object  of  my  question. 

"It  was  in  the  month  of  June,  17 — .  For  thirty  long,  long 
years,  I  supposed  my  child  had  actually  died,  and  then  the  mere 
force  of  conscience  told  me  the  truth.  The  wretched  woman 
could  not  carry  the  secret  with  her  into  the  grave,  and  she  sent 
for  me  to  hear  the  sad  revelation." 

"  Which  was  to  say  that  she  left  the  child  in  a  basket  on  a 
tombstone  in  a  marble-worker's  yard  in  the  town — in  the  yard 
of  a  man  whose  name  was  Durfee  ?"  I  said,  as  rapidly  as  I  could 
speak. 

"  She  did,  indeed !  though  it  is  a  marvel  to  me  that  a 
stranger  should  know  this.  AVhat  will  be  God's  pleasure 
next?" 

Marble  groaned.  He  hid  his  face  in  his  hands,  while  the 
poor  woman  looked  from  one  of  us  to  the  other,  in  bewildered 
expectation  of  what  was  to  follow.  I  could  not  leave  her  long 
in  doubt ;  but,  preparing  her  for  what  was  to  follow,  by  little 
and  little  I  gave  her  to  understand  that  the  man  she  saw  before 
her  was  her  son.  After  half  a  century  of  separation,  the  mother 
and  child  had  thus  been  thrown  together  by  the  agency  of  an  in 


MILE  S      W  A  I.  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  41 

Bcrutablo  Providence!  The  reader  will  readily  anticipate  tlio 
character  of  the  explanations  that  succeeded.  Of  the  truth  of 
the  circumstances  there  could  not  be  a  shadow  of  doubt,  when, 
every  thing  was  related  and  compared.  Mrs.  "Wetmore  had  as 
certained  from  her  unfaithful  nurse  the  history  of  her  child  as 
far  as  the  almshousc,  but  thirty  years  had  left  a  gap  in  the  in 
formation  she  had  received,  and  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  ob 
tain  the  name  under  which  he  had  left  that  institution.  The 
Eevolution  was  just  over  when  she  made  her  application,  and  it 
was  thought  that  some  of  the  books  had  been  taken  away  by 
a  refugee.  Still,  there  were  a  plenty  of  persons  to  supply  tra 
ditions  and  conjectures,  and  so  anxious  were  she  and  her  hus 
band  to  trace  these  groundless  reports  to  their  confirmation  or 
refutation,  that  much  money  and  time  were  thrown  away  in  the 
fruitless  attempts.  At  length  one  of  the  old  attendants  of  the 
children's  department  was  discovered,  who  professed  to  know 
the  whole  history  of  the  child  brought  from  the  stonecutter's 
yard.  This  woman  doubtless  was  honest,  but  her  memory  had 
deceived  her.  She  said  that  the  boy  had  been  called  Stone, 
instead  of  Marble,  a  mistake  that  was  natural  enough  in  itself, 
but  which  was  probably  owing  to  the  fact  that  another  child  of 
the  first  name  had  really  left  the  institution  a  few  months  before 
Moses  took  his  leave.  This  Aaron  Stone  had  been  traced,  first, 
as  an  apprentice  to  a  tradesman,  thence  into  a  regiment  of  foot 
in  the  British  army,  which  regiment  had  accompanied  the  rest 
of  the  forces  at  the  evacuation,  November  25th,  1783. 

The  Wctmorcs  fancied  they  were  now  on  the  track  of  their 
child.  lie  was  traced  down  to  a  period  within  a  twelvemonth 
of  that  of  tho  search,  and  was  probably  to  be  found  in  England, 
still  wearing  the  livery  of  the  king.  After  a  long  consultation 
between  the  disconsolate  parents,  it  was  determined  that  George 
Wetmore  should  sail  for  England  in  the  hope  of  recovering 
their  son.  But,  by  this  time,  money  was  scarce.  These  worthy 
people  were  enabled  to  live  in  comfort  on  their  little  farm,  but 
they  were  not  rich  in  cash.  All  the  loose  coin  was  gone  in  the 
previous  search,  and  even  a  small  debt  had  been  contracted  to 


42  MILES      W  A  L  L  I  X  G  F  O  R  D . 

enable  them  to  proceed  as  far  as  they  had.  No  alternative  re 
mained  but  to  mortgage  their  home.  This  was  done  with  great 
reluctance  ;  but  what  will  not  a  parent  do  for  his  child  ?  A  coun 
try  lawyer,  of  the  name  of  Van  Tassel,  was  ready  enough  to  ad 
vance  five  hundred  on  a  place  that  was  worth  quite  three  thou 
sand  dollars.  This  man  was  one  of  the  odious  class  of  country 
usurers,  a  set  of  cormorants  that  are  so  much  worse  than  their 
town  counterparts,  because  their  victims  are  usually  objects  of 
real,  an  5.  not  speculative  distress,  and  as  ignorant  and  unprac 
tised  as  they  are  necessitous.  It  is  wonderful  with  what  far- 
sighted  patience  one  of  these  wretches  will  bide  his  time,  in 
order  to  effect  a  favorite  acquisition.  Mrs.  Wetmore's  little 
farm  was  very  desirable  to  this  Squire  Van  Tassel,  for  reasons  in 
addition  to  its  intrinsic  value ;  and  for  years  nothing  could  be 
kinder  and  more  neighborly  than  his  indulgence.  Interest  was 
allowed  to  accumulate,  until  tlus  whole  debt  amounted  to  the 
sum  of  a  thousand  dollars.  In  the  mean  time  the  father  went 
to  England,  found  the  soldier  after  much  trouble  and  expense, 
Ascertained  that  Stone  knew  his  parents,  one  of  whom  had  died 
in  the  almshouse,  and  spent  all  his  money. 

Years  of  debt  and  anxiety  succeeded,  until  the  father  sunk 
under  his  misfortunes.  An  only  daughter  also  died,  leaving 
Kitty  a  legacy  to  her  widowed  mother,  the  other  parent  having 
died  even  before  her  birth.  Thus  was  Katharine  Van  Duzer,  our 
old  hostess,  left  to  struggle  on  nearly  alone,  at  the  decline  of 
life,  with  a  poverty  that  was  daily  increasing,  years,  and  this 
infant  grand-daughter.  Just  before  his  death,  however,  George 
Wetmore  had  succeeded  in  selling  a  portion  of  his  farm,  that 
which  was  least  valuable  to  himself,  and  with  the  money  he  paid 
off  Van  Tassel's  mortgage.  This  was  his  own  account  of  the 
matter,  and  he  showed  to  his  wife  Van  Tassel's  receipt,  the 
money  having  been  paid  at  the  county  town,  where  the  bond 
and  mortgage  could  not  be  then  produced.  This  Avas  shortly 
before  Wetmore's  last  illness.  A  twelvemonth  after  his  death, 
the  widow  was  advised  to  demand  the  bond,  and  to  take  the 
mortgage  off  record.  But  the  receipt  was  not  to  be  found. 


MILES      WALLINGFOKD.  43 

With  a  woman's  ignorance  of  such  matters,  the  widow  let  this 
fact  leak  out ;  and  her  subsequent  demand  for  the  release  \vas 
met  with  a  counter  one  for  evidence  of  payment.  This  was  the 
commencement  of  Van  Tassel's  hostile  attitude ;  and  things  had 
gone  as  far  as  a  foreclosure,  and  an  advertisement  for  a  sale, 
when  the  good  woman  thus  opportunely  discovered  her  son  ! 


W  I  I,  K  S 


CHAPTER  III. 

"  I  charge  you  by  the  lawr, 
"Whereof  you  are  a  well-deserving  pillar, 
Proceed  to  judgment ;  by  my  soul  I  swear 
There  is  no  power  in  the  tongue  of  man 
To  alter  me :  I  stay  here  on  my  bond." 

SHYLOCK. 

IT  is  not  easy  to  describe  the  immediate  effect  of  tins  discov 
ery  on  either  of  the  parties  most  concerned.  Not  a  doubt  re 
mained  on  the  mind  of  either,  after  the  facts  were  explained,  of 
the  reality  of  the  relationship  ;  for  that  Avas  so  simply  proved, 
as  to  place  the  circumstance  beyond  all  dispute.  Mrs.  Wetmore 
thought  of  her  lost  son  as  of  an  innocent,  smiling  babe  ;  and 
here  she  found  him  a  red-faced,  hard-featured,  weather-beaten 
tar,  already  verging  toward  age,  and  a  man  of  manners  that  were 
rough,  if  not  rude.  She  could  not  at  first  possess  any  knowledge 
of  the  better  points  in  his  character,  and  was  comp611ed  to  re 
ceive  this  boon  from  Providence  as  it  was  offered.  Neverthe 
less,  a  mother's  love  is  not  easily  dissatisfied,  or  smothered ;  and 
ere  I  left  the  house,  I  could  sec  the  old  woman's  eyes  fixed  on 
Marble  with  an  expression  of  interest  and  tenderness  they  had 
not  manifested  previously  to  the  revelations. 

As  for  the  mate  himself,  now  that  the  fondest  wish  of  his  life 
was  so  unexpectedly  gratified,  he  was  taken  so  much  by  surprise 
that  he  appeared  to  think  something  was  wanting.  lie  found 
his  another  the  reputable  widow  of  a  reputable  man,  of  a  class 
in  life  quite  equal  to  his  own,  living  on  a  property  that  was 
small,  certainly,  and  involved,  but  property  that  had  been  long 
in  her  family.  The  truth  was,  Marble  felt  so  much  at  this  un 
looked-for  appeal  to  his  gentler  feelings,  that  one  of  his  stem 


MILES      W  A  I,  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D  .  45 

nature  did  not  know  how  to  answer  it  on  the  emergency ;  and 
the  obstinacy  of  his  temperament  rather  induced  him  to  resist, 
than  to  yield  to  such  unwonted  sentiments.  I  could  sec  he  was 
satisfied  with  his  mother,  while  he  was  scarcely  satisfied  with 
himself;  and,  with  a  view  to  place  both  parties  in  truer  posi 
tions,  I  desired  Moses  to  walk  down  and  look  at  the  boat,  while 
I  remained  alone  with  his  new-found  parent.  This  was  not 
done,  however,  until  all  the  explanations  had  been  made,  and 
the  mother  had  both  blessed  and  wept  over  her  child.  It  was 
done,  indeed,  principally  to  relieve  Marble  from  the  oppression 
of  feeling  created  by  this  very  scene. 

As  soon  as  alone  with  Mrs.  Wetmore,  I  explained  to  her  my 
own  connection  with  Marble,  and  gave  her  a  sort  of  apologetic 
account  of  his  life  and  character,  keeping  down  the  weak  points, 
and  dwelling  on  the  strong.  I  set  her  mind  at  ease,  at  once,  on 
the  subject  of  the  farm ;  for,  should  the  worst  happen,  her  son 
had  double  the  amount  of  money  that  would  be  necessary  to 
discharge  the  mortgage. 

"The  debt  was  incurred,  my  dear  Mrs.  Wetmore,  iu  his  be 
half;  and  he  will  be  happy  to  discharge  it  on  the  spot.  I 
would  advise  you  to  pay  the  money  at  once.  Should  the  re 
ceipt  ever  be  found,  this  Van  Tassel  will  be  obliged  to  refund ; 
for  though  the  law  winks  at  many  wrongs,  it  will  not  wink  at 
one  so  atrocious  as  this,  provided  you  can  satisfy  it  with  proof. 
I  shall  leave  Moses" — 

"  His  name  is  Oloff,  or  Oliver,"  interrupted  the  old  woman, 
eagerly  ;  "  I  named  him  after  my  own  father,  and  had  him  duly 
christened,  before  he  was  entrusted  to  the  nurse,  in  the  hope  it 
might  soften  his  grandfather's  heart,  when  he  came  to  know  of 
my  marriage.  Oloff  Van  Dtizer  Wetmore  is  his  real  name." 

I  smiled  to  think  of  Marble's  sailing  under  such  an  appella 
tion,  and  was  about  to  suggest  a  compromise,  when  the  subject 
of  our  discourse  returned.  The  mate  had  regained  his  com 
posure  during  the  half  hour  he  had  been  absent ;  and  I  saw  by 
the  kind  glance  he  threw  on  his  mother,  whose  look  answered 
his  own  more  naturally  than  I  could  have  hoped,  that  things 


46  MILKS      WALLING  FORD. 

were  getting  right ;  and,  by  way  of  removing  the  awkwardness 
of  excessive  sensibility,  I  pursued  the  discourse. 

"  We  were  talking  of  your  true  name,  Moses,  as  you  came 
in,"  I  said.  "  It  will  never  do  for  you  to  hail  I  y  one  name, 
while  your  mother  hails  by  another.  You'll  have  to  cut  adrift 
from  Moses  Marble  altogether." 

"  If  I  do,  may  I  be"— 

"  Hush,  hush — you  forget  where  you  arc,  and  in  whose  pres 
ence  you  stand." 

"  I  hope  my  son  will  soon  learn  that  he  is  always  in  the  pres 
ence  of  his  God,"  observed  the  mother,  plaintively. 

"  Ay,  ay — that's  all  right,  mother,  and  you  shall  do  with  me 
just  what  you  please  in  any  of  them  matters ;  but  as  for  not 
being  Moses  Marble,  you  might  as  well  ask  me  not  to  be  my 
self.  I  should  be  another  man,  to  change  my  name.  A  fellow 
might  as  well  go  without  clothes,  as  go  without  a  name ;  and 
mine  came  so  hard,  I  don't  like  to  part  with  it.  No,  no — had 
it  come  to  pass,  now,  that  my  parents  had  been  a  king  and  a 
queen,  and  that  I  was  to  succeed  'em  on  the  throne,  I  should 
reign  as  King  Moses  Marble,  or  not  reign  at  all." 

"  You'll  think  better  of  this,  and  take  out  a  new  register  under 
your  lawful  designation." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,  mother,  and  that  will  satisfy  all 
parties.  I'll  bend  on  the  old  name  to  the  new  one,  and  sail 
under  both." 

"  I  care  not  how  you  are  called,  my  son,  so  long  as  no  one 
has  need  to  blush  for  the  name  you  bear.  This  gentleman  tells 
me  you  are  an  honest  and  true-hearted  man;  and  those  are 
blessings  for  which  I  shall  never  cease  to  thank  God." 

"  Miles  has  been  singing  my  praises,  has  he !  I  can  tell  you, 
mother,  you  had  need  look  out  for  Miles's  tongue.  Natur'  in 
tended  him  for  a  lawyer,  and  it's  mere  accident  his  being  a 
sailor,  though  a  capital  one  he  is.  But  what  may  be  my  name, 
according  to  law  ?" 

"  Oloff  Van  Duzer  Wetmore  Moses  Marble,  according  to  your 
own  expedient  of  sailing  under  all  your  titles.  Yon  can  ring 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  47 

the  changes,  however,  and  call  yourself  Moses  Oloff  Marble  Van 
Duzer  Wctmorc,  if  you  like  that  better." 

Moses  laughed,  and  as  I  saw  that  both  he  and  his  new-found 
mother  were  in  a  fit  state  to  be  left  together,  and  that  the  sun  now 
wanted  but  an  hour  or  two  of  setting,  I  rose  to  take  my  leave. 

"  You  will  remain  with  your  mother  to-night,  Marble,"  I  ob 
served.  "  I  will  keep  the  sloop  at  an  anchor  until  I  can  see  you 
in  the  morning,  when  we  will  settle  the  future  a  little  more  de 
liberately." 

"  I  should  not  like  to  lose  my  son  so  soon  after  finding  him," 
the  old  woman  anxiously  remarked. 

"  No  fear  of  me,  mother — I  berth  under  your  roof  to-night, 
and  so  many  more  in  the  bargain,  that  you'll  be  glad  enough  to 
be  rid  of  me  in  the  end." 

I  then  left  the  house,  followed  by  Marble,  toward  the  boat. 
As  we  reached  the  little  piece  of  bottom-land,  I  heard  a  sort 
of  suppressed  sob  from  the  mate,  and,  turning  round,  was  sur 
prised  to  see  the  tears  running  down  his  sun-burned  cheeks. 
His  wrought-up  feelings  had  at  last  obtained  the  mastery  ;  and 
this  rude,  but  honest  creature,  had  fairly  given  in,  under  the 
excitement  of  this  strange  admixture  of  joy,  wonder,  shame, 
and  natural  emotion.  I  took  his  hand,  gave  it  a  hearty  squeeze, 
but  said  nothing ;  though  I  stopped,  unwilling  to  go  nearer  to 
Neb  until  my  companion  had  regained  his  composure.  This  he 
did,  sufficiently  to  speak,  in  the  course  of  a  minute  or  two. 

"  It's  all  like  a  dream  to  me,  Miles,"  Moses  at  length  mutter 
ed — "  more  out  of  natur'  like,  than  setting  up  for  a  hermit." 

"  You'll  soon  get  accustomed  to  the  change,  Marble ;  then 
every  thing  will  seem  in  the  ordinary  way,  and  natural." 

"  To  think  of  my  being  a  son,  and  having  a  real,  living 
mother !" 

"  You  must  have  known  that  you  had  parents  once,  though  you 
arc  fortunate  in  finding  one  of  them  alive  at  your  time  of  life." 

"  And  she  an  honest  woman  !  A  mother  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  or  the  first  commodore  in  the  navy,  needn't 
be  ashamed  of!" 


48  MILES      WALLINOFORD. 

"  All  that  is  fortunate,  certainly  ;  especially  tlio  first." 

"  She's  a  bloody  good-looking  old  woman  in  the  bargain. 
I'll  have  her  dressed  up  and  carry  her  down  to  town,  the  first 
opportunity." 

"What  would  you  give  an  old  woman  that  trouble  for? 
You'll  think  better  of  these  matters,  in  the  long  run." 

"  Better  !  Yes,  I'll  take  her  to  Philadelphia,  and  perhaps  to 
Baltimore.  There's  the  gardens,  and  the  theatres,  and  the 
museums,  and  lots  of  things  that  I  dare  say  the  dear  old  soul 
never  laid  eyes  on." 

"  I'm  mistaken  in  your  mother,  if  she  would  not  prefer  a 
church  to  all  of  them  put  together." 

"  Well,  there's  churches  in  all  of  them  towns.  Put  it  on  a 
religious  footing,  if  you  will,  and  I  ought  to  take  my  mother  as 
soon  as  possible  down  to  York.  She's  old,  you  see,  and  cannot 
live  forever,  just  to  oblige  me ;  and  here  has  she  been  tied 
down  to  one  church  all  her  days,  giving  her  no  ch'ice  nor  op 
portunity.  I  dare  say,  now,  variety  is  just  as  agreeable  in  relig 
ion,  as  in  any  thing  else." 

"  You  are  nearer  right  there,  Moses,  than  you  think  yourself, 
possibly.  But  we  can  talk  of  all  these  things  to-morrow.  A 
good  night's  rest  will  give  us  cooler  heads  in  the  morning." 

"  I  shall  not  sleep  a  wink  for  thinking  of  it.  No,  no — I'll 
make  the  old  lady  pack  up  before  breakfast,  and  we'll  sail  in  the 
sloop.  I'll  take  her  aboard  the  Dawn  with  me  in  town,  and  a 
comfortable  time  we'll  have  of  it  in  her  cabins.  She  lias  as 
good  state-rooms  as  a  yacht." 

There  were  no  liners  in  those  days ;  but  a  ship  with  two 
cabins  was  a  miracle  of  convenience. 

"  Your  mother  will  hardly  suit  a  ship,  Moses ;  and  a  ship  will 
hardly  suit  your  mother." 

"  How  can  any  of  us  know  that  till  we  try  ?  If  I'm  a  chip 
of  the  old  block,  they'll  take  to  each  other  like  rum  and  water. 
If  I'm  to  go  out  in  the  ship,  I'm  far  from  certain  I'll  not  take 
the  old  woman  to  sea  with  me." 

"  You'll  probably  remain  at  home,  now  that  you  have  a  home, 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  40 

and  a  mother,  and  other  duties  to  attend  to.  I  and  my  con 
cerns  will  be  but  secondary  objects  with  you  hereafter,  Mr. 
Wetmore." 

"  Wetmore  be  d — d !  D'ye  mean,  Miles,  that  I'm  to  give  up 
my  calling,  give  up  the  sea,  give  up  you?" 

"  You  wished  to  be  a  hermit  once,  and  found  it  a  little  too 
solitary ;  had  you  a  companion  or  two,  you  would  have  been 
satisfied,  you  said.  Well,  here  is  every  thing  you  can  wish ; 
a  mother,  a  niece,  a  house,  a  farm,  barns,  out-houses,  garden 
and  orchard  ;  and,  seated  on  that  porch,  you  can  smoke  cigars, 
take  your  grog,  look  at  the  craft  going  up  and  down  the  Hud 
son"— 

"  Nothing  but  so  many  bloody  sloops,"  growled  the  mate. 
"  Such  in-and-in  fore-and-afters  that  their  booms  won't  stay 
guyed  out,  even  after  you've  been  at  the  pains  to  use  a  hawser." 

"  Well,  a  sloop  is  a  pleasant  object  to  a  sailor,  when  he  can 
get  nothing  better.  Then  there  is  this  Mr.  Van  Tassel  to  settle 
with — you  may  have  a  ten  years'  lawsuit  on  your  hands,  to 
amuse  you." 

"  I'll  make  short  work  with  that  scamp,  when  I  fall  in  with 
him.  You're  right  enough,  Miles ;  that  affair  must  be  settled 
before  I  can  lift  an  anchor.  My  mother  tells  me  he  lives  hard 
by,  and  can  be  seen,  at  any  moment,  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 
I'll  pay  him  a  visit  this  very  night." 

This  declaration  caused  me  to  pause.  I  knew  Marble  too 
well,  not  to  foresee  trouble  if  he  were  left  to  himself  in  a  matter 
of  this  nature,  and  thought  it  might  be  well  to  inquire  further 
into  the  affair.  Sailors  do  every  thing  off-hand.  Mrs.  Wetmore 
telling  me  that  her  son's  statement  was  true,  on  my  going  back 
to  the  house  to  question  her  in  the  matter,  and  offering  us  the 
use  of  an  old-fashioned  one-horse  chaise,  that  the  only  farm- 
laborer  she  employed  was  just  then  getting  ready  to  go  in,  in 
quest  of  Kitty,  I  availed  myself  of  the  opportunity,  took  the 
printed  advertisement  of  the  sale  to  read  as  we  went  along,  ob 
tained  our  directions,  and  off  Marble  and  I  went  in  quest  of  the 
usurer. 


60  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

There  would  be  sufficient  time  for  all  our  purposes.  It  is 
true  that  the  horse,  like  the  house,  its  owner,  the  laborer,  the 
chaise,  and  all  we  had  yet  seen  about  Willow  Cove,  as  we  had 
learned  the  place  was  called,  was  old  ;  but  he  was  the  more  safe 
and  sure.  The  road  led  up  the  ascent  by  a  ravine,  through 
which  it  wound  its  Avay  very  prettily  ;  the  laborer  walking  by 
our  side  to  point  out  the  route,  after  we  should  reach  the  eleva 
tion  of  the  country  that  stretched  inland. 

The  view  from  the  height,  as  it  might  be  termed  in  reference 
to  the  river,  though  it  was  merely  on  the  level  of  the  whole 
region  in  that  portion  of  the  state,  was  both  extensive  and 
pretty.  Willow  Grove,  as  Marble  called  his  mother's  place 
three  or  four  times,  while  our  horse  was  working  his  way  up 
the  ascent,  looked  more  invitingly  than  ever,  with  its  verdant 
declivities,  rich  orchards,  neat  cottage,  all  ensconced  behind  the 
sheltering  cover  of  the  river  heights.  Inland,  we  saw  a  hundred 
farms,  groves  without  number,  divers  roads,  a  hamlet  within  a 
mile  of  us,  an  old-fashioned  extinguisher-looking  church-spire, 
and  various  houses  of  wood  painted  white,  with  here  and  there 
a  piece  of  rustic  antiquity  in  bricks,  or  stone,  washed  with  lime, 
or  some  livelier  paint ;  for  the  Dutch  of  New  York  had  brought 
the  habits  of  Holland  with  them,  delighting  in  colors.  This 
relief  may  be  desirable  in  a  part  of  the  world  where  the  eternal 
green  of  the  meadows  in  a  manner  fatigues  the  eye ;  but  cer 
tainly  the  gray  of  nature  has  no  just  competitor  in  the  tints  of 
the  more  artificial  portions  of  the  ordinary  landscape.  White 
may  make  a  scene  look  gay  ;  but  it  can  never  lend  it  dignity, 
or  the  solemn  hues  that  so  often  render  the  loveliness  of  a  view 
impressive,  as  well  as  sweet.  When  this  glaring  color  reaches 
the  fences,  it  gives  the  prettiest  landscape  the  air  of  a  bleaching- 
yard,  or  of  a  great  laundry,  with  the  clothes  hung  out  to  dry ! 

The  guide  pointed  out  to  us  the  house  of  Van  Tassel,  and 
another  at  which  we  should  find  Kitty,  who  was  to  be  brought 
home  by  us  on  our  return.  Understanding  the  course  and  dis 
tance,  we  put  to  sea  without  any  misgivings.  The  horse  was 
no  flyer,  and  Marble  and  I  had  plenty  of  leisure  to  arrange 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  M 

preliminaries  before  reaching  the  door  to  Avhich  we  were  bound. 
After  some  consultation,  and  a  good  deal  of  discussion,  I  suc 
ceeded  in  persuading  my  companion  it  Avould  not  be  Avisest  to 
break  ground  by  flogging  the  attorney — a  procedure  to  which 
he  was  strongly  inclined.  It  was  settled,  however,  he  was  at 
once  to  declare  himself  to  be  Mrs.  Wetmore's  son,  and  to  de 
mand  his  explanations  in  that  character ;  one  that  would  clearly 
give  him  every  claim  to  bo  heard. 

"  I  know  what  these  usurers,  as  you  call  'em,  Miles,  must  be," 
said  the  mate.  "  They  are  a  sort  of  in-shore  pawnbrokers ;  and 
the  Lord  have  mercy  on  them,  for  I'll  have  none.  I've  had  oc 
casion  to  pawn  a  watch,  or  a  quadrant,  in  my  time ;  and  bloody 
poor  prices  does  a  fellow  get  for  his  goods  and  chattels.  Yes, 
yes ;  I'll  let  the  old  gentleman  know,  at  once,  I'm  Van  Duzer 
Oloff  Marble  Wetmore  Moses,  or  whatever's  my  name ;  and  will 
stand  up  for  the  right  in  a  fashion  that  will  surprise  him ;  but 
Avhat  are  you  to  do  in  the  mean  time  ?" 

It  struck  me,  if  I  could  get  Marble  to  attempt  practising  a 
sort  of  ruse,  it  would  have  the  effect  to  prevent  his  resorting  to 
club-law,  toward  which  I  knew  he  had  a  strong  natural  disposi 
tion,  and  of  which  I  was  still  a  little  afraid.  With  this  object, 
then,  I  conceived  the  following  scheme. 

"  You  shall  simply  introduce  me  as  Mr.  Miles  Wallingford," 
I  said,  "  but  in  a  formal  manner,  that  may  induce  this  Mr.  Van 
Tassel  to  imagine  I'm  a  sort  of  lawyer ;  and  this  may  have  the 
effect  to  awe  him,  and  bring  him  to  terms  the  easier.  Do  not 
say  I  am  a  lawyer,  for  that  will  not  be  true,  and  it  will  also  be 
awkward  falling  back  when  the  truth  comes  to  be  known." 

Marble  took  the  idea,  and  seemed  pleased  with  it,  though  he 
affirmed  that  there  could  be  no  such  thing  as  acting  lawyer 
without  lying  a  little,  and  that  "  the  truth  was  too  good  for  one 
of  your  bloody  usurers."  I  got  him  trained  however,  by  the 
time  we  reached  the  door  ;  and  we  alighted  as  well  prepared  for 
our  task  as  could  be  expected. 

There  was  nothing  about  the  residence  of  'Squire  Van  Tassel 
to  denote  the  grasping  money-dealer,  unless  a  certain  negligence 


52  MILES     WALLItfGFORD. 

of  tlic  exterior  might  be  supposed  to  betray  the  abode  of  such 
a  man.  His  Mends  wished  to  ascribe  this  to  an  indifference  to 
appearance ;  but  the  multitude,  more  accurately  imputed  it  to 
parsimony.  When  the  very  soul  gets  to  be  absorbed  in  the 
process  of  rolling  gold  over  and  over,  in  order  to  make  it  ac 
cumulate,  the  spirit  grudges  the  •withdrawal  of  the  smallest 
fraction  from  the  gainful  pursuit ;  and  here  lies  the  secret  of  the 
disdain  of  appearances  that  is  so  generally  to  be  met  with  in 
this  description  of  persons.  Beyond  this  air  of  negligence, 
however,  the  dwelling  of  Van  Tassel  was  not  to  be  distinguish 
ed  from  those  of  most  of  the  better  houses  of  that  part  of  the 
country.  Our  application  for  admission  was  favorably  received, 
and,  in  a  minute,  we  were  shown  into  the  attorney's  office. 

'Squire  Van  Tassel,  as  this  man  was  universally  termed,  eyed 
us  keenly  as  we  entered,  no  doubt  with  a  view  to  ascertain  if 
we  Avere  borrowers.  I  might  possibly  have  passed  for  one  of 
that  character,  for  I  aimed  at  looking  serious  and  thoughtful ; 
but  I  would  defy  any  man  to  mistake  Moses  for  one  who  came 
on  such  an  errand.  He  looked  more  like  a  messenger  sent  by 
the  Father  of  Sin,  to  demand  the  payment  of  a  certain  bond 
that  had  been  signed  in  blood,  and  of  which  the  fatal  pay-day 
had  at  length  arrived.  I  had  to  give  the  skirt  of  his  coat  a 
pull,  in  order  to  recall  "him  to  our  agreement,  else  I  do  think 
the  first  salutation  received  by  the  attorney,  would  have  been  a 
broadside  in  any  thing  but  words.  The  hint  succeeded,  and 
Marble  permitted  our  host  to  open  the  communications. 

'Squire  Van  Tassel  had  a  very  miserly  exterior.  He  even 
looked  ill  fed;  though  doubtless  this  appearance  was  more  a 
consequence  of  habit  of  body,  than  of  short-feeding.  lie  wore 
spectacles  with  black  rims,  and  had  the  common  practice  of 
looking  over  them  at  objects  at  a  distance,  which  gave  him  an 
air  still  more  watchful  than  that  which  he  imbibed  from  charac 
ter.  His  stature  was  small,  and  his  years  about  sixty,  an  age 
when  the  accumulation  of  money  begins  to  bring  as  much  pain 
as  pleasure  ;  for  it  is  a  period  of  life  when  men  cannot  fail  to  see 
the  termination  of  their  earthly  schemes.  Of  all  the  passions, 


MILES     WALLINQFORD.  55 

^  avarice  is  notoriously  that  which  the  latest  loosens  its 
hold  on  the  human  heart. 

"Your  servant,  gentlemen,"  commenced  the  attorney,  in  a 
manner  that  was  civil  enough  ;  "  your  servant ;  I  beg  you  to 
help  yourselves  to  chairs."  We  all  three  took  seats,  at  this  in 
vitation.  "  A  pleasant  evening,"  eyeing  us  still  more  keenly 
over  his  glasses,  "  and  weather  that  is  good  for  the  crops.  If 
the  wars  continue  much  longer  in  Europe,"  another  look  over 
the  glasses,  "  we  shall  sell  all  the  substance  out  of  our  lands,  in 
order  to  send  the  belligerents  wheat.  I  begin  to  look  on  real 
estate  security  as  considerably  less  valuable  than  it  was,  when 
hostilities  commenced  in  1793,  and  as  daily  growing  less  and 
less  so." 

"  Ay,  you  may  say  that,"  Marble  bluntly  answered ;  "  partic 
ularly  the  farms  of  widows  and  orphans." 

The  "  'Squire"  was  a  little  startled  at  this  unexpected  reply. 
He  looked  intently  at  each  of  us  again,  over  the  spectacles  ;  and 
then  asked,  in  a  manner  divided  between  courtesy  and  author- 
ity— 

"  May  I  inquire  your  names,  and  the  object  of  this  visit  ?" 

"  Savtain,"  said  Marble.  "  That's  reasonable  and  your  right. 
"We  are  not  ashamed  of  our  names,  nor  of  our  errand.  As  for 
the  last,  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  you'll  know  it  sooner  than  you  will 
wish  to  know  it ;  but,  to  begin  at  the  right  end,  this  gentleman 
with  me  is  Mr.  Miles  "Wallingford,  a  partic'lar  friend  of  old 
Mrs.  Wetmore,  who  lives  a  bit  down  the  road  yonder,  at  a  farm 
called  Willow  Grove ;  'Squire  Wallingford,  sir,  is  her  friend, 
and  my  friend,  and  I've  great  pleasure  in  making  you  acquainted 
Avith  him." 

"  I  am  happy  to  see  the  gentleman,"  answered  Van  Tassel, 
taking  another  look,  while  at  the  same  time  he  glanced  his  eye 
at  an  alphabetical  list  of  the  attorneys  and  counsellors  to  see 
what  place  I  occupied  among  them.  "  Very  happy  to  see  the 
gentleman,  who  has  quite  lately  commenced  practice,  I  should 
think,  by  his  age,  and  my  not  remembering  the  name." 

"  There  must  be  a  beginning  to  all  things,  Mr.  Van  Tassel," 


54  MILES     W  A  L  L.I  N  G  F  O  It  D . 

I  replied,  with  a  calmness  that  I  could  see  the  old  usurer  did 
not  like. 

"Very  true,  sir,  and  I  hope  your  future  success  will  be  in 
proportion  to  the  lateness  of  your  appearance  at  the  bar.  Your 
companion  has  much  more  the  air  of  a  sailor  than  of  a  lawyer." 
This  was  true  enough,  there  being  no  mistaking  Marble's  char 
acter,  though  I  had  put  on  a  body-coat  to  come  ashore  in.  "  I 
presume  he  is  not  in  the  practice." 

"  That  remains  to  be  seen,  sir,"  answered  Marble.  "  Having 
told  you  my  friend's  name,  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  I  will  now  tell  you 
my  own.  I  am  called  Moses  Marble  Wetmore  Van  Duzer 
Oloff,  sir,  or  some  such  bloody  thing ;  and  you're  welcome  to 
take  your  pick  out  of  the  whole  list.  I'll  answer  to  either  of 
them  aliases." 

"  This  is  so  extraordinary  and  unusual,  gentlemen,  I  scarce 
know  what  to  make  of  it.  Has  this  visit  any  connection  with 
Mrs.  Wetmore,  or  her  farm,  or  the  mortgage  I  have  been  fore 
closing  on  the  last  ?" 

"  It  has,  sir;  and  I  am  that  Mrs.  Wetmore's  son — yes,  sir,  the 
only  child  of  that  dear,  good,  old  soul." 

"  The  son  of  Mrs.  Wetmore  !"  exclaimed  Van  Tassel,  both 
surprised  and  uneasy.  "  I  knew  there  was  a  son ;  but  I  have 
been  always  told  it  was  impossible  to  find  him.  I  see  no  re 
semblance,  sir,  in  you,  to  either  George  Wetmore  or  Kitty  Van 
Duzer." 

Now  this  was  not  altogether  true.  As  for  George  Wetmore, 
they  who  had  known  him  in  middle  age,  afterward  declared 
that  Moses  did  resemble  him  greatly ;  while  I,  myself,  could 
trace  in  the  mouth  and  milder  expression  of  the  mate's  features, 
a  strong  likeness  to  the  subdued  character  of  his  aged  mother's 
face.  This  resemblance  would  not  have  been  observed,  in  all 
probability,  without  a  knowledge  of  the  affinity  that  existed  be 
tween  the  parties ;  but,  with  that  knowledge,  it  was  not  easy  to 
oveilook. 

"  Resemblance !"  repeated  Marble,  much  in  the  tone  of  one 
who  is  ready  to  quarrel  on  the  slightest  provocation ;  "  how 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  V  O  R  D.  55 

should  there  be  any  resemblance  after  the  life  I've  led  ?  In  the 
first  place  I  was  carried  out  of  my  mother's  sight  in  less  than 
ten  days  after  I  was  born.  Then  I  was  placed  on  a  tombstone, 
by  way  of  encouragement ;  after  which  they  sent  me  to  live 
among  paupers.  I  ran  away  at  ten  years  old,  and  went  to  sea, 
where  I've  played  the  part  of  a  man-of-war's-man,  privateer's- 
man,  smuggler,  mate,  master,  and  all  hands;  every  thing,  in 
short,  but  a  pirate  and  mutineer.  I've  been  a  bloody  hermit, 
Mr.  Van  Tassel,  and  if  that  wont't  take  the  resemblance  to  any 
thing  human  out  of  a  fellow,  his  face  is  as  unchangeable  as  that 
on  a  gold  coin." 

"  All  this,  Mr.  "Wallingford,  is  so  unintelligible  to  me,  that  I 
shall  have  to  ask  you  to  explain  it." 

"  I  can  only  add  to  it,  sir,  my  belief  that  every  word  you  hear 
is  true;  I  am  satisfied  that  this  is,  in  a  legal  sense,  Oloff  Van 
Duzer  Wetmore,  the  only  surviving  child  of  George  "VVetmore 
and  Katharine  Van  Duzer.  He  has  come  to  see  you  in  relation 
to  a  claim  you  are  said  to  hold  against  the  farm  his  mother  in 
herited  from  her  parents." 

"  Said  to  hold  ! — I  certainly  do  hold  George  "Wetmore's  bond, 
secured  by  a  mortgage  signed  by  his  wife,  balance  due,  includ 
ing"  interest  and  costs,  $963  42  ;  and  am  proceeding  to  sell,  un 
der  the  statute.  One  sale  has  been  postponed  to  oblige  the 
widow,  for  a  merciful  man  would  not  wish  to  press  a  single  and 
aged  woman,  though  I've  lain  out  of  my  money  a  very  long 
time.  You  are  aware,  sir,  that  I  lose  all  my  interest  on  interest, 
and  must  take  up  with  just  Avhat  the  law  will  give — hard 
ship  enough  in  active  times  like  these,  when  not  a  day  passes 
that  something  good  does  not  offer  in  the  way  of  purchasing 
the  best  of  securities,  at  liberal  discounts.  Trade  is  so  lively 
now,  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  men  will  almost  sell  their  souls  for 
money." 

"  I  rather  think,  sir,  that  some  men  will  do  this  at  all  times, 
nay,  do  it  hourly,  daily.  But  I  am  instructed" — I  could  not 
he.p  acting  the  counsel  a  little  on  the  occasion — "  I  am  in- 
str acted  that  the  bond  of  George  Wetmore  is  paid  in  full." 


50  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  How  can  that  be,  sir,  -while  I  still  hold  bond  and  mortgage ? 
As  t  business  man,  you  must  understand  the  value  to  be  attached 
to  the  idle  tales  of  women,  and  can  see  the  danger  of  taking  their 
gossip  for  authority.  George  Wetmore  had  some  knowledge  of 
business,  and  would  not  be  likely  to  pay  his  bond  without  tak 
ing  it  up,  or  at  least  of  obtaining  a  receipt,  much  less  leave  the 
mortgage  on  record." 

"  I  am  informed  he  did  take  your  receipt,  though  he  presumes 
he  must  have  lost  it  with  a  missing  pocket-book,  which  his 
widow  supposes  to  have  been  dropped  from  his  coat  the  very 
day  he  returned  from  the  court  where  he  met  you,  and  where 
he  says  he  paid  you  the  money,  being  anxious  to  stop  interest 
as  soon  as  possible." 

"  A  very  idle  story,  and  one  you  do  not  suppose  the  chan 
cellor  will  believe,  confirmed  by  the  hearsay  of  the  party  inter 
ested  in  preserving  the  property.  You  are  aware,  sir,  that  the 
sale  can  be  stopped  only  by  an  injunction  from  the  Court  of 
Chancery." 

Now  I  was  certainly  no  lawyer,  but  like  almost  every  Ameri 
can,  I  knew  something  of  that  branch  of  the  jurisprudence  of 
the  country,  which  touched  my  own  interests.  As  a  land 
holder,  I  had  a  little  knowledge  of  the  law  of  real  estate,  and 
was  not  absolutely  ignorant  of  the  manner  in  which  matters 
were  managed  in  that  most  searching  of  all  tribunals,  the  Court 
of  Chancery.  A  lucky  thought  suggested  itself  to  my  mind  on 
the  instant,  and  I  made  use  of  it  on  the  spur  of  the  moment. 

"  It  is  quite  true,  sir,"  I  answered,  "  that  any  prudent  judge 
might  hesitate  about  entering  a  decree  on  authority  no  better 
than  the  oath  of  Mrs.  "Wetinore  that  she  had  heard  her  husband 
say  he  had  paid  the  money,  but  you  will  remember  that  the 
party  replying  has  to  swear  to  his  answer.  All  of  us  might  bo 
better  satisfied  in  this  affair,  were  you  to  make  oath  that  the 
money  was  never  paid." 

This  hit  told,  and  from  that  moment  I  did  not  entertain  a 
doubt  that  Wetmore  had  paid  the  money,  and  that  Van  Tassel 
retained  a  perfect  recollection  of  the  whole  affair.  This  much 


MILKS      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D  .  57 

I  could  read  in  the  man's  altered  countenance  and  averted  eye, 
lliougli  my  impressions  certainly  were  not  proof.  If  not  proof, 
however,  for  a  court  of  justice,  they  served  to  enlist  me  ear 
nestly  in  the  pursuit  of  the  affair,  into  which  I  entered  warmly 
from  that  moment.  In  the  mean  time  I  waited  for  Van  Tas 
sel's  answer,  watching  his  countenance  the  whole  time,  with  a 
vigilance  that  I  could  easily  see  caused  him  great  embarrass 
ment. 

"  Kitty  Wetmore  and  I  Avere  born  neighbors'  children,"  he 
said,  "  and  this  mortgage  has  given  me  more  trouble  than  all 
the  rest  of  my  little  possessions.  That  I  have  been  in  no 
hurry  to  foreclose  is  plain  by  the  length  of  time  I've  suffered 
to  go  by  without  claiming  my  dues.  I  could  wait  no  longer 
without  endangering  my  rights,  as  there  would  be  a  presump 
tion  of  payment  after  twenty  years,  and  a  presumption  that 
would  tell  harder  against  me  than  old  Kitty's  oath.  We  are 
neighbors'  children,  as  I've  said,  nevertheless,  and  rather  than 
push  matters  to  extremities  I  will  consent  to  some  sort  of  a 
compromise." 

"  And  what  sort  of  a  compromise  will  be  agreeable  to  your 
notions  of  justice,  Mr.  Van  Tassel  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  as  Kitty  is  old,  it  would  be  a  sad  thing  to  drive 
her  from  the  roof  under  which  she  was  born.  This  I've  said 
and  thought  from  the  first,  and  say,  now.  Still,  I  cannot  part 
with  my  property  without  a  compensation  ;  though  I'm  willing 
to  wait.  I  told  Mrs.  Wetmore,  before  advertising,  that  if  she 
would  give  a  new  bond,  making  all  clear,  and  giving  me  inter 
est  on  the  whole  sum  now  due,  I  should  be  willing  to  grant  her 
time.  I  now  propose,  however,  as  the  simplest  way  of  settling 
the  affair,  to  accept  from  her  a  release  of  the  equity  of  redemp 
tion,  and  to  grant  her  a  lease,  for  her  own  life,  on  a  nominal 
rent." 

Even  Marble  knew  enough  to  see  the  rank  injustice  of  such 
an  offer.  In  addition  to  conceding  the  non-payment  of  the 
debt,  it  was  securing  to  Van  Tassel,  at  no  distant  day,  the  quiet 
possession  of  the  farm,  for  somewhat  less  than  one  third  its 


58  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

value.  I  detected  symptoms  of  an  outbreak  in  the  mate,  and 
was  ob.iged  to  repress  it  by  a  sign,  while  I  kept  the  discussion 
in  my  own  hands. 

"  Under  such  an  arrangement,  sir,"  I  answered,  "  my  friend 
here  would  be  literally  selling  his  birthright  for  a  mess  of 
porridge." 

"  You  will  remember,  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  a  mortgage  sale, 
legally  made,  is  a  ticklish  thing,  and  the  courts  do  not  like  to 
disturb  one.  This  sale  will  take  place  this  day  week  ;  and  the 
title  once  passed,  it  will  not  be  so  easy  a  matter  to  get  it  re- 
passed.  Mr.  Wetmore,  here,  does  not  look  like  a  man  ready  to 
pay  down  a  thousand  dollars." 

"  We  shall  not  run  the  risk  of  letting  the  title  pass.  I  will 
buy  the  property,  myself,  if  necessary ;  and  should  it  afterward 
appear  that  the  money  has  been  actually  paid,  we  believe  you 
are  sufficiently  secure  for  principal,  interest,  and  costs." 

"  You  are  young  in  the  profession,  Mr.  Wallingford,  and  will 
come  to  learn  the  folly  of  advancing  money  for  your  clients." 

"  I  am  not  in  the  profession  at  all,  sir,  as  yon  have  erroneous 
ly  supposed,  but  am  a  shipmaster  ;  and  Mr.  Wetmore,  or  Mar 
ble,  as  he  has  hitherto  been  called,  is  my  mate.  Still,  we  are 
none  the  worse  provided  with  the  means  of  paying  a  thousand 
dollars — or  twenty  of  them,  should  it  be  necessary." 

"  No  lawyer !"  cried  Van  Tassel,  smiling  grimly.  "  A  couple 
of  sailors  about  to  dispute  the  foreclosure  of  a  mortgage !  Fa 
mous  justic'e  we  should  get  at  your  hands,  gentlemen !  Well, 
well ;  I  now  see  how  it  is,  and  that  this  has  only  been  an  at 
tempt  to  Avork  on  my  sympathies  for  an  old  woman  who  has 
been  living  on  my  money  these  twenty  years.  I  rather  think 
your  $963  42,  will  prove  to  be  of  the  same  quality  as  your 
law." 

"  And,  yet,  it  struck  me,  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  that  you  rather  dis 
liked  the  idea  of  swearing  to  the  truth  of  an  answer  to  a  certain 
bill  in  chancery,  which,  if  I  cannot  draw,  one  Abraham  Van 
Vechten,  of  Albany,  can  !" 

"  Abraham  Van  Vechten  is  skilful  counsel,  and  an  honest 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  59 

man,  and  is  not  likely  to  be  employed  in  a  cause  that  rests 
only  on  an  old  woman's  hearsays — and  all  to  save  her  own 
farm !" 

Marble  could  keep  silence  no  longer.  He  told  me  afterward, 
that,  during  the  dialogue,  he  had  been  taking  the  measure  of 
the  old  usurer's  foot,  and  felt  it  would  be  a  disgrace  to  strike  so 
feeble  a  creature  ;  but,  to  sit  and  hear  his  newly-found  mother 
sneered  at,  and  her  just  rights  derided,  was  more  than  his  pa- 
tiencfe.,  could  endure.  Rising  abruptly,  therefore,  he  broke  out 
at  once  in  one  of  the  plainest  philippics  of  the  sea.  I  shall  not 
repeat  all  he  said ;  for,  to  render  it  justly,  might  be  to  render  it 
offensive ;  but,  in  addition  to  calling  old  Van  Tassel  by  a  great 
many  names  that  were  as  unusual  as  they  were  quaint,  he  called 
him  by  several  that  would  be  familiar  to  the  ears  of  most  of  my 
readers,  besides  being  perfectly  well  merited.  I  allowed  his 
humor  to  find  vent ;  and,  giving  the  attorney  to  understand  he 
should  hear  further  from  us,  I  succeeded  in  getting  my  compan 
ion  to  the  wagon,  without  coming  to  blows.  I  could  see  that 
Van  Tassel  was  very  far  from  being  at  his  ease,  and  that  he 
would  still  gladly  keep  us,  if  he  could,  in  the  hope  of  bringing 
about  some  sort  of  a  compromise,  if  possible ;  but  I  thought  it 
wisest  to  let  matters  rest  awhile,  after  the  decided  demonstra 
tion  wo  had  already  made. 

It  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  get  Marble  into  the  vehicle  ;  but 
this  was  DO  sooner  effected,  than  I  trotted  him  off,  down  the 
road,  taking  the  direction  of  the  house  where  we  had  been  told 
to  seek  Kit  fry  Huguenin,  old  Mrs.  Wetmore's  grand-daughter, 
who  would  be  waiting  the  appearance  of  the  chaise,  in  order  to 
return  home.: 

"  You  must  put  on  a  more  amicable  look,"  said  I  to  the 
mate,  as  we  went  on  our  way,  "  or  you'll  frighten  your  niece  ; 
with  whom,  you  will  remember,  you  are  about  to  make  an  ac 
quaintance." 

"  The  cheating  vagabond,  to  take  advantage  of  a  poor,  lonely 
old  woman,  whose  only  husband  was  in  the  grave,  and  only  son 
«.t  sen. !"  the  mate  continued  to  mutter.  "  Talk  about  the  com- 


60 


MILES      'WALLINGFORD. 


mandmcnts !  I  should  like  to  know  -what  commandment  this 
•was  breaking.  The  whole  six,  in  a  batch." 

"  The  tenth,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  my  friend ;  and  that  is  a 
commandment  broken  all  day,  and  every  day." 

The  denunciations  of  the  mate  continued  for  some  time  lon 
ger,  and  then  went  off  like  the  rumbling  of  distant  thunder  in  the 
heavens  after  the  passage  of  the  gust. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  61 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"No  Moorish  maid  might  hope  to  vie 
"With  Laila's  cheek,  or  Laila's  eye ; 
Ko  maiden  loved  with  purer  truth, 
Or  ever  loved  a  lovelier  youth." 

SOUTHEY. 

"  MILES,"  said  Moses,  suddenly,  after  riding  a  short  distance 
in  silence,  "I  must  quit  the  old  lady,  this  very  night,  and  go 
down  with  you  to  town.  We  must  have  that  money  up  at  the 
place  of  sale,  in  readiness  for  the  vagabond ;  for,  as  to  letting 
him  have  the  smallest  chance  at  Willow  Grove,  that  is  out  of  the 
question." 

"  As  you  please,  Marble ;  but,  now,  get  yourself  in  trim  to 
meet  another  relation ;  the  second  you  have  laid  eyes  on,  in  this 
world." 

"  Think  of  that,  Miles  !  Think  of  my  having  two  relations  ! 
A  mother  and  a  niece  !  Well,  it  is  a  true  saying,  that  it  never 
rains  but  it  pours." 

"  You  probably  have  many  more,  uncles,  aunts,  and  cousins 
in  scores.  The  Dutch  are  famous  for  counting  cousins ;  and  no 
doubt  you'll  have  calls  on  you  from  half  the  county." 

I  saw  that  Marble  was  perplexed,  and  did  not  know,  at  first, 
but  he  was  getting  to  be  embarrassed  by  this  affluence  of  kin 
dred.  The  mate,  however,  was  not  the  man  long  to  conceal  his 
thoughts  from  me ;  and  in  the  strength  of  his  feelings  he  soon 
let  his  trouble  be  known. 

"  I  say,  Miles,"  he  rejoined,  "  a  fellow  may  be  bothered  with 
felicity,  I  find.  Now,  here,  in  ten  minutes  perhaps,  I  shall  have 
to  meet  my  sister's  dartar — my  own,  born,  blood  niece ;  a  full- 
grown,  and  I  dare  say,  a  comely  young  woman  ;  and,  hang  me 


62  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

if  I  know  exactly  what  a  man  ought  to  say  in  such  a  state  of 
the  facts.  Generalizing  won't  do  with  these  near  relations ;  and 
I  suppose  a  sister's  dartar  is  pretty  much  the  same  to  a  chap  as 
his  own  dartar  would  be,  provided  he  had  one." 

"  Exactly  ;  had  you  reasoned  a  month,  you  could  not  have  hit 
upon  a  better  solution  of  the  difficulty  than  this.  Treat  this 
Kitty  Huguenin  just  as  you  would  treat  Kitty  Marble." 

"  Ay,  ay :  all  this  is  easy  enough  aforehand,  and  to  such 
scholars  as  you ;  but  it  comes  hard  on  a  fellow  like  myself  to 
heave  his  idees  out  of  him,  as  it  might  be,  with  a  windlass.  I 
managed  the  old  woman  right  well,  and  could  get  along  with 
a  dozen  mothers,  better  than  with  one  sister's  dartar.  Sup 
pose  she  should  turn  out  a  girl  with  black  eyes,  and  red  cheeks, 
and  all  that  sort  of  thing ;  I  dare  say  she  would  expect  me  to 
kiss  her  ?" 

"  Certainly ;  she  will  expect  that,  should  her  eyes  even  bo 
white,  and  her  cheeks  black.  Natural  affection  expects  this 
much  even  among  the  least  enlightened  of  the  human  race." 

"  I  am  disposed  to  do  every  thing  according  to  usage,"  re 
turned  Marble,  quite  innocently,  and  more  discomposed  by  tho 
situation  in  which  he  so  unexpectedly  found  himself,  than  he 
might  have  been  willing  to  own ;  "  while,  at  the  same  time,  I 
do  not  wish  to  do  any  thing  that  is  not  expected  from  a  son  and 
an  uncle.  If  these  relations  had  only  come  one  at  a  time." 

"  Poh,  poh,  Moses — do  not  be  quarrelling  with  your  good 
luck,  just  as  it's  at  its  height.  Here  is  the  house,  and  I'll  en 
gage  one  of  those  four  girls  is  your  niece — that  with  the  bonnet, 
for  a  dollar ;  she  being  ready  to  go  home,  and  the  whole  having 
come  to  the  door,  in  consequence  of  seeing  the  chaise  driving 
down  the  road.  They  are  puzzled  at  finding  us  in  it,  however, 
Instead  of  the  usual  driver." 

Marble  hemmed,  attempted  to  clear  his  throat,  pulled  down 
both  sleeves  of  his  jacket,  settled  his  black  handkerchief  to  his 
mind,  slyly  got  rid  of  his  quid,  and  otherwise  "  cleared  ship  for 
action,'  as  he  would  have  been  very  apt  to  describe  his  own 
preparations.  After  all,  his  heart  failed  him  at  the  pinch ; 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  63 

and  just  as  I  was  pulling  up  the  horse,  he  said  to  me,  in  a  voice 
so  small  and  delicate,  that  it  sounded  odd  to  one  who  had  heard 
the  man's  thunder,  as  he  hailed  yards  and  tops  in  gales  of  wind, 

"  Miles,  iny  dear  boy,  I  do  not  half  like  this  business ;  sup 
pose  you  get  out,  and  open  the  matter  to  the  ladies.  There's 
four  of  them,  you  see,  and  that's  three  too  many.  Go,  now, 
Miles,  that's  a  good  fellow,  and  I'll  do  the  same  for  you  another 
time.  I  can't  have/owr  nieces  here,  you'll  own  yourself." 

"  And  while  I  am  telling  your  story  to  your  niece,  your  own 
sister's  daughter,  what  will  you  be  doing  here,  pray  ?" 

"  Doing  ?  Why  any  thing,  my  dear  Miles,  that  can  be  use 
ful.  I  say,  boy,  do  you  think  she  looks  any  thing  like  me  J 
When  you  get  nearer,  if  you  should  think  so,  just  hold  up  a 
hand  as  a  signal,  that  I  may  not  be  taken  by  surprise.  Yes, 
yes  ;  you  go  first,  and  I'll  follow  ;  and,  as  for  '  doing,'  why,  you 
know,  I  can  hold  this  bloody  horse." 

I  laughed,  threw  the  reins  to  Marble,  who  seized  them  with 
both  hands,  as  if  the  beast  required  holding,  while  I  alighted, 
and  walked  to  the  cluster  of  girls,  who  awaited  my  movements  in 
surprise  and  silence.  Since  that  day,  I  have  seen  more  of  the 
world  than  might  have  been  expected  in  one  of  my  early  career ; 
and  often  have  I  had  occasion  to  remark  the  tendency  there 
exists  to  extremes  in  most  things ;  in  manners,  as  well  as  in 
every  other  matter  connected  with  human  feelings.  As  we  be 
come  sophisticated,  acting  takes  the  place  of  nature,  and  men 
and  women  often  affect  the  greatest  indifference  in  cases  in 
which  they  feel  the  liveliest  interest.  This  is  the  source  of  the 
ultra  sangfroid  of  what  is  termed  high  breeding,  which  Avould 
have  caused  the  four  young  women,  who  then  stood  in  the  dooi- 
yard  of  the  respectable  farm-house  at  which  I  had  alighted,  to 
ar,sume  an  air  as  cold,  and  as  marble-like,  at  the  sudden  appear 
ance  of  Mrs.  Wetmore's  chaise,  containing  two  strange  faces,  as 
if  they  had  been  long  expecting  our  arrival,  and  were  a  little 
displeased  it  had  not  occurred  an  hour  sooner.  Such,  however, 
was  not  my  reception.  Though  the  four  girls  were  all  youthful, 
blooming,  pretty,  delicate  in  appearance,  according  to  the  fash- 


64  MILES     WALUNGFOKD. 

ion  of  American  women,  and  tolerably  well  attired,  they  bad 
none  of  the  calm  exterior  of  conventional  manner.  One  would 
speak  quick  to  another ;  looks  of  surprise  were  often  exchanged ; 
there  were  not  a  few  downright  giggles,  and  then  each  put  on 
as  dignified  an  air  to  meet  the  stranger  as,  under  the  circum 
stances,  she  could  assume. 

"I  presume  Miss  Kitty  Huguenin  is  among  you,  young  la 
dies,"  I  commenced,  bowing  as  civilly  as  was  necessary ;  "  for 
this  appears  to  be  the  house  to  which  we  were  directed." 

A  girl  of  about  sixteen,  of  decidedly  pleasing  appearance,  and 
one  who  bore  a  sufficient  resemblance  to  old  Mrs.  Wetmore  to 
be  recognized,  advanced  a  step  out  of  the  group,  a  little  eagerly, 
and  then  as  suddenly  checked  herself,  with  the  timidity  of  her 
years  and  sex,  as  if  afraid  of  going  too  far. 

"  I  am  Kitty,"  she  said,  changing  color  once  or  twice ;  now 
flushing,  and  now  growing  pale.  "  Is  any  thing  the  matter,  sir  ? 
has  grandmother  sent  for  me  ?" 

"  Nothing  is  the  matter,  unless  you  can  call  good  news  some 
thing  the  matter.  We  have  just  left  your  grandmother's  on 
business,  having  been  up  to  'Squire  Van  Tassel's  on  her  affairs ; 
rather  than  let  us  go  on  foot,  she  lent  us  her  chaise,  on  condi 
tion  that  we  should  stop  on  our  return  and  bring  you  home 
Avith  us.  The  chaise  is  the  evidence  that  we  act  under  orders." 
In  most  countries,  such  a  proposition  would  have  excited  dis 
trust  ';  in  America,  and  in  that  day,  more  especially  among  girlb 
of  the  class  of  Kitty  Huguenin,  it  produced  none.  Then,  I 
flatter  myself,  I  was  not  a  very  frightful  object  to  a  girl  of  that 
age,  and  that  my  countenance  was  not  of  such  a  cast  as  abso 
lutely  to  alarm  her.  Kitty,  accordingly,  wished  her  companions 
hasty  adieus,  and  in  a  minute  she  was  placed  between  Marble 
and  myself,  the  old  vehicle  being  sufficiently  spacious  to  accom 
modate  three.  I  made  my  bows,  and  away  we  trotted,  or  ambled 
would  be  a  better  word.  For  a  brief  space  there  was  silence 
in  the  chaise,  though  I  could  detect  Marble  stealing  sidelong 
glances  at  his  pretty  little  niece.  His  eyes  were  moist,  and  he 
hemmed  violently  once,  and  actually  blew  his  nose,  taking  occa- 


MILES      WALLING  FORD.  65 

sion,  at  the  same  time,  to  pass  his  handkerchief  over  his  fore 
head  no  less  than  three  times  in  as  many  minutes.  The  furtive 
manner  in  which  he  indulged  in  these  feelings,  provoked  me  to 
say — 

"  You  appear  to  have  a  bad  cold  this  evening,  Mr.  Wetmore," 
for  I  thought  the  opportunity  might  also  be  improved,  in  the 
way  of  breaking  ground  with  our  secret. 

"  Ay,  you  know  how  it  is  in  these  matters,  Miles — somehow, 
I  scarce  know  why  myself,  but  somehow  I  feel  bloody  woman 
ish  this  evening." 

I  felt  little  Kitty  pressing  closer  to  my  side,  as  if  she  had 
certain  misgivings  touching  her  other  neighbor. 

"  I  suppose  you  are  surprised,  Miss  Kitty,"  I  resumed,  "  at 
finding  two  strangers  in  your  grandmother's  chaise  ?" 

"  I  did  not  expect  it — but — you  said  you  had  been  to  Mr. 
Van  Tassel's,  and  that  there  was  good  news  for  me — does 
'Squire  Van  Tassel  allow  that  grandfather  paid  him  the  money  ?" 

"  Not  that  exactly,  but  you  have  friends  who  will  see  that  no 
wrong  shall  be  done  you.  I  suppose  you  have  been  afraid  your 
grandmother  and  yourself  might  be  turned  away  from  the  old 
place  ?" 

"'Squire  Van  Tassel's  daughters  have  boasted  as  much," 
answered  Kitty,  in  a  very  subdued  tone — a  voice,  indeed,  that 
grew  lower  and  more  tremulous  as  she  proceeded — "  but  I  don't 
much  mind  them,  for  they  think  their  father  is  to  own  the  whole 
country  one  of  these  days."  This  was  uttered  with  spirit. 
"  But  the  old  house  was  built  by  grandmother's  grandfather, 
they  say,  and  grandmother  was  born  in  it,  and  mother  was  born 
in  it,  and  so  was  I.  It  is  hard  to  leave  a  place  like  that,  sir, 
and  for  a  debt,  too,  that  grandmother  says  she  is  sure  has  once 
been  paid." 

u  Ay,  bloody  hard !"  growled  Marble. 

Kitty  again  pressed  nearer  to  me,  or,  to  speak  more  properly, 
farther  from  the  mate,  whose  countenance  was  particularly  grim 
just  at  that  moment. 

"  All  that  you  say  is  very  true,   Kitty,"  I  replied ;    "  but 


66  MILES      WALL  ING  FORD. 

Providence  has  sent  yon  friends  to  take  care  that  no  wrong  shall 
be  done  your  grandmother,  or  yourself." 

"  You're  right  enough  in  that,  Miles,"  put  in  the  mate.  "God 
bless  the  old  lady  ;  she  shall  never  sleep  out  of  the  house,  with 
my  consent,  unless  it  is  when  she  sails  down  the  river  to  go  to 
the  theatre,  and  the  museum,  the  ten  or  fifteen  Dutch  churches 
there  are  in  town,  and  all  them  'ere  sort  o'  thingumerees." 

Kitty  gazed  at  her  left-hand  neighbor  with  surprise,  but  I 
could  feel  that  maiden  bashfulness  induced  her  to  press  less 
closely  to  my  side  than  she  had  done  the  minute  before. 

"  I  don't  understand  you,"  Kitty  answered,  after  a  short 
pause,  during  which  she  was  doubtless  endeavoring  to  compre 
hend  what  she  had  heard.  "  Grandmother  has  no  wish  to  go 
to  town ;  she  only  wants  to  pass  the  rest  of  her  days,  quietly,  at 
the  old  place,  and  one  church  is  enough  for  anybody." 

Had  the  little  girl  lived  a  few  years  later,  she  would  have  as 
certained  that  some  persons  required  half  a  dozen. 

"  And  you,  Kitty,  do  you  suppose  your  grandmother  has  no 
thought  for  you,  when  she  shall  be  called  away  herself  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes !  I  know  she  thinks  a  good  deal  of  that,  but  I  tiy 
to  set  her  heart  at  ease,  poor,  dear  old  grandmother,  for  it's 
of  no  use  to  be  distressing  herself  about  me  !  I  can  take  care 
of  myself  well  enough,  and  have  plenty  of  friends  who  will  never 
sec  me  want.  Father's  sisters  say  they'll  take  care  of  me" 

"  You  have  one  friend,  Kitty,  of  whom  you  little  think,  just 
now,  and  he  will  provide  for  you." 

"  I  don't  know  whom  you  mean,  sir — unless — and  yet — you 
can't  suppose  I  never  think  of  God,  sir  ?" 

"  I  mean  a  friend  on  earth — have  you  no  friend  on  earth  whom 
you  have  not  mentioned  yet  ?" 

"  I  am  not  sure — perhaps — you  do  not  mean  Horace  Bright, 
do  you,  sir?" 

This  was  said  with  a  bright  blush,  and  a  look  in  which  the 

O  ' 

dawning  consciousness  of  maiden  shame  was  so  singularly  blend 
ed  with  almost  childish  innocence,  as  both  to  delight  me,  and 
yet  cause  me  to  smile. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  67 

"And  who  is  Horace  Bright?"  I  asked,  assuming  as  grave  an 
air  as  possible. 

"  Oh !  Horace  is  nobody — only  the  son  of  one  of  our  neighbors. 
There,  don't  you  see  the  old  stone  house  that  stands  among  the 
apple  and  cherry  trees,  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  just  here  in  a 
line  with  this  barn  ?" 

"  Quite  plainly,  and  a  very  pretty  place  it  is.  We  were  ad 
miring  it  as  we  drove  up  the  road." 

"  Well,  that  is  Horace  Bright's  father's,  and  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  neighborhood.  But  you  mustn't  mind  what  he 
says,  grandmother  always  tells  me ;  boys  love  to  talk  grandly, 
and  all  the  folks  about  here  feel  for  us,  though  most  of  them  are 
afraid  of  'Squire  Van  Tassel  too." 

"  I  place  no  reliance  at  all  on  Horace's  talk,  not  I.  It  is  just 
as  your  grandmother  tells  you ;  boys  are  fond  of  making  a  pa 
rade,  and  often  utter  things  they  don't  mean." 

"  Well,  I  don't  think  that  is  Horace's  way  in  the  least,  though 
I  wouldn't  have  you  suppose  I  ever  think  the  least  in  the  world 
about  what  Horace  says  concerning  my  never  being  left  to  want. 
My  own  aunts  will  take  care  of  that" 

"  And  should  they  fail  you,  my  dear,"  cried  Marble,  Avith 
strong  feeling,  "  your  own  uncle  would  step  into  their  places, 
without  waiting  to  have  his  memory  jogged." 

Again  Kitty  looked  surprised,  a  very  little  startled,  and  again 
she  pressed  to  my  side. 

"  I  have  no  uncle,"  she  answered,  timidly.  "  Father  never 
had  a  brother,  and  grandmother's  son  is  dead." 

"  No,  Kitty,"  I  said,  giving  a  look  at  Marble  to  keep  him 
quiet ;  "  in  the  last  you  are  mistaken.  This  is  the  good  news 
of  which  we  spoke.  Your  grandmother's  son  is  not  dead,  but 
living,  and  in  good  health.  He  is  found,  acknowledged,  has 
passed  the  afternoon  with  your  grandmother,  has  money  more 
«han  enough  to  satisfy  even  the  unjust  demand  of  the  miserly 
Van  Tassel,  and  will  be  a  father  to  you" 

"Oh!  dear  me,  can  this  be  true?"  exclaimed  Kitty,  pressing 
still  closer  than  ever  to  my  side.  "And  are  you  uncle,  after  all, 


08  MILES      WALLINOFORD. 

and  will  it  all  come  out  as  you  say  ?  Poor,  poor  grandmother, 
and  I  not  at  liome  to  hear  it  all,  and  to  help  her  imdcr  such  a 
great  trial !" 

"  Your  grandmother  was  a  little  distressed  of  course,  at  first, 
but  she  bore  it  all  remarkably  well,  and  is  as  happy  at  this  mo 
ment  as  you  yourself  could  wish  her  to  be.  Your  arc  under  a 
mistake,  however,  in  supposing  I  am  your  uncle.  Do  I  look  old 
enough  to  be  your  mother's  brother  ?" 

"  Dear  me,  no — I  might  have  seen  that,  hadn't  I  been  so  silly 
— can  it  be  this  other  gentleman  ?" 

Here  Marble  took  his  hint  from  nature,  and  clasping  the  pret 
ty  young  creature  in  his  arms,  he  kissed  her  with  an  affection 
and  warmth  that  were  truly  paternal.  Poor  Kitty  was  fright 
ened  at  first,  and  I  dare  say,  like  her  grandmother,  in  a  slight 
degree  disappointed,  but  there  was  so  much  heartiness  in  the 
mate's  manner,  that  it  reassured  her  in  a  degree. 

"  I'm  a  bloody  poor  uncle,  I  know,  Kitty,  for  a  young  woman 
like  you  to  own,"  Marble  got  out,  though  sorely  tempted  to 
blubber ;  "  but  there's  worse  in  the  world,  as  you'll  discover,  no 
doubt,  in  tune.  Such  as  I  am,  you  must  take  me,  and  from  this 
time  henceforth,  do  not  care  a  straw  for  old  Van  Tassel,  or  any 
other  griping  vagabond  like  him,  in  York  state." 

"Uncle  is  a  sailor!"  Kitty  answered,  after  being  fairly  re 
leased  from  the  mate's  rough  embrace.  "  Grandmother  heard 
once  that  he  was  a  soldier." 

"  Ay,  that  comes  of  lying.  I  don't  think  they  could  have 
made  a  soldier  of  me,  had  two  wicked  nurses  run  away  with 
me,  and  had  they  placed  me  on  fifty  tombstones,  by  way  of 
commencing  life.  My  natur'  would  revolt  at  carrying  a  musket, 
for  sartain,  while-the  seas  have  always  been  a  sort  of  home  to 
me." 

Kitty  made  no  answer  to  this,  being  a  little  in  doubt,  I  be 
lieve,  as  to  the  manner  in  which  she  was  to  regard  this  new  ac 
quisition  of  an  nncle. 

"  Your  grand-parents  did  suppose  your  uncle  a  soldier,"  I  re 
marked,  "  but,  after  the  man  was  seen  the  mistake  was  discov- 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  60 

2red,  and  now  the  truth,  has  come  out  in  a  way  tliat  will  admit 
of  no  dispute." 

"  How  is  uncle  named  ?"  demanded  the  niece,  in  a  low  voice, 
and  a  hesitating  manner.  "  Mother's  brother  was  christened 
01  off,  I  have  heard  grandmother  say." 

"  Very  true,  dear ;  we've  been  all  over  that,  the  old  lady  and 
I.  They  tell  me,  too,  I  was  christened  by  the  name  of  Moses — 
I  suppose  you  know  who  Moses  was,  child  ?" 

"  To  be  sure,  uncle !"  said  Kitty,  with  a  little  laugh  of  sur 
prise.  "  He  was  the  great  lawmaker  of  the  Jews." 

"  Ha,  Miles,  is  that  so  ?" 

I  nodded  assent. 

"  And  do  you  know  about  his  being  found  in  the  bulrushes, 
and  the  story  of  the  king  of  Ethiopia's  daughter  ?" 

"  The  king  of  Egypt,  you  mean,  do  you  not,  unclo  Olofff 
cried  Kitty,  with  another  little  laugh. 

"  Well,  Ethiopia  or  Egypt ;  it's  all  pretty  much  the  same — 
this  girl  has  been  wonderfully  edicated,  Miles,  and  will  turn  out 
famous  company  for  me,  in  the  long  winter  evenings,  some 
twenty  years  hence,  or  when  I've  worked  my  way  up  into  the 
latitude  of  the  dear,  good  old  soul  under  the  hill  yonder." 

A  slight  exclamation  from  Kitty  Avas  followed  by  a  blush,  and 
a  change  of  expression,  that  showed  she  was  thinking,  just  at 
that  moment,  of  any  thing  but  uncle  Oloff.  I  asked  an  explana 
tion. 

"  It's  only  Horace  Bright,  out  yonder  in  the  orchard,  look 
ing  at  us.  He  will  be  puzzled  to  know  who  is  with  me,  here, 
in  the  old  chaise.  Horace  thinks  he  can  drive  a  horse  better 
than  any  one  about  here,  so  you  must  be  careful  how  you  hold 
the  reins,  or  use  the  whip.  Horace  !" 

This  boded  no  good  to  Marble's  plans  for  passing  the  even 
ings  of  his  old  age  with  Kitty  to  amuse  him  ;  but,  as  we  were 
now  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  with  the  cottage  in  sight,  Horace 
Bright  was  soon  lost  to  view.  To  do  the  girl  justice,  she  ap 
peared  now  to  think  only  of  her  grandmother,  and  of  the  effects 
the  recent  discovery  of  her  son  would  be  likely  to  produce  on 


70  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

one  of  her  years  and  infirmities.  As  for  myself,  I  was  surprised 
to  sec  Mr.  Hardinge  in  earnest  conversation  with  old  Mrs.  AVet- 
more,  both  seated  on  the  stoop  of  the  cottage,  in  the  mild  sum 
mer's  evening,  and  Lucy  walking,  to  and  fro,  on  the  short  grass 
of  the  willow  bottom,  with  an  impatience  and  restlessness  of 
manner  it  was  very  unusual  for  her  to  exhibit.  No  sooner  was 
Kitty  alighted,  than  she  ran  to  her  grandmother,  Marble  follow 
ing,  while  I  hastened  to  the  point  where  was  to  be  found  the 
great  object  of  my  interest.  Lucy's  face  Avas  full  of  feeling  and 
concern,  and  she  received  me  with  an  extended  hand,  that  gra 
cious  as  was  the  act  itself,  and  most  grateful  as  it  would  have 
proved  to  me  under  other  circumstances,  I  now  feared  boded  no 
good. 

"  Miles,  you  have  been  absent  an  age !"  Lucy  commenced. 
"  I  should  be  disposed  to  reproach  you,  had  not  the  extraor 
dinary  story  of  this  good  old  woman  explained  it  all.  I  feel  the 
want  of  air  and  exercise ;  give  me  your  arm,  and  we  will  walk  a 
short  distance  up  the  road.  My  dear  father  will  not  be  inclined 
to  quit  that  happy  family,  so  long  as  any  light  is  left." 

I  gave  Lucy  my  arm,  and  we  did  walk  up  the  road  together, 
actually  ascending  the  hill  I  had  just  descended  ;  but  all  this 
did  not  induce  me  to  overlook  the  fact  that  Lucy's  manner  was 
hurried  and  excited.  The  whole  seemed  so  inexplicable,  that  I 
thought  I  would  wait  her  own  pleasure  in  the  matter. 

"  Your  friend,  Marble,"  she  continued — "  I  do  not  know  why 
I  ought  not  to  say  our  friend,  Marble,  must  be  a  very  happy 
man  at  having,  at  length,  discovered  who  his  parents  are,  and 
to  have  discovered  them  to  be  so  respectable  and  worthy  of  his 
affection." 

"  As  yet,  he  seems  to  be  more  bewildered  than  happy,  as, 
indeed,  does  the  whole  family.  The  thing  has  come  on  them  so 
unexpectedly,  that  there  has  not  been  time  to  bring  their  feel 
ings  in  harmony  with  the  facts." 

"  Family  affection  is  a  blessed  thing,  Miles,"  Lucy  resumed, 
after  a  short  pause,  speaking  in  her  thoughtful  manner ;  "  there 
is  little  in  this  world  that  can  compensate  for  its  loss.  It  must 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  71 

have  been  sad,  sad,  to  the  poor  fellow  to  have  lived  so  long  with 
out  father,  mother,  sister,  brother,  or  any  other  known  relative." 

"  I  believe  Marble  found  it  so  ;  yet,  I  think,  he  felt  the  sup 
posed  disgrace  of  his  birth  more  than  his  solitary  condition. 
The  man  has  warm  affections  at  the  bottom,  though  lie  has  a 
most  uncouth  manner  of  making  it  known." 

"  I  am  surprised  one  so  circumstanced  never  thought  of  mar 
rying  ;  he  might,  at  least,  have  lived  in  the  bosom  of  his  own 
family,  though  he  never  knew  that  of  a  father." 

"  These  are  the  suggestions  of  a  tender  and  devoted  female 
heart,  dear  Lucy  ;  but  what  has  a  sailor  to  do  with  a  wife  ?  I 
have  heard  it  said  Sir  John  Jervis — the  present  Lord  St.  Vincent 
— always  declared  a  married  seaman,  a  seaman  spoiled ;  and  I 
believe  Marble  loves  a  ship  so  well  he  would  hardly  know  how 
to  love  a  woman." 

Lucy  made  no  answer  to  this  indiscreet  and  foolish  speech. 
Why  it  was  made,  I  scarce  knew  myself ;  but  the  heart  has  its 
bitter  moods,  -when  it  prompts  sentiments  and  declarations  that 
are  very  little  in  accordance  with  its  real  impulses.  I  was  so 
much  ashamed  of  what  I  had  just  said,  and,  in  truth,  so  much 
frightened,  that,  instead  of  attempting  to  laugh  it  off,  as  a  silly, 
unmeaning  opinion,  or  endeavoring  to  explain  that  this  was  not 
my  own  way  of  thinking,  I  walked  on  some  distance  in  silence, 
myself,  and  suffered  my  companion  to  imitate  me  in  this  partic 
ular.  I  have  since  had  reason  to  think  that  Lucy  was  not 
pleased  at  my  manner  of  treating  the  subject,  though,  blessed 
creature  !  she  had  another  matter  to  communicate/  that  lay  too 
heavy  on  her  heart  to  allow  one  of  her  generous,  disinterested 
nature,  to  think  much  of  any  thing  else. 

"  Miles,"  Lucy  at  length  broke  the  silence  by  saying,  "  I  wish, 
I  do  wish  we  had  not  met  that  other  sloop  this  morning." 

I  stopped  short  in  the  highway,  dropped  my  beautiful  com 
panion's  arm,  and  stood  gazing  intently  in  her  face,  as  if  I  would 
read  her  most  inmost  thoughts  through  those  windows  of  the 
soul,  her  serene,  mild,  tender,  blue  eyes.  I  saw  that  the  face 
was  colorless,  and  that  the  beautiful  lips,  out  of  which  the  wotds 


72  MILES      WALLINGFOUD. 

that  Lad  alarmed  me  more  by  their  accents  than  their  direct  sig« 
nification,  had  proceeded,  were  quivering  in  a  way  that  their  love 
ly  mistress  could  not  control.  Tears,  as  large  as  heavy  drops  of 
rain,  too,  were  trembling  on  the  long  silken  eyelashes,  while  the 
very  attitude  of  the  precious  girl  denoted  hopelessness  and  grief! 

"  This  relates  to  Grace !"  I  exclaimed,  though  my  throat  waa 
so  parched,  as  almost  to  choke  my  utterance. 

"  Whom,  or  what  else,  can  now  occupy  our  minds,  Miles  ?  I 
can  scarce  think  of  any  thing  but  Grace ;  when  I  do,  it  is  to  re 
member  that  my  own  brother  has  killed  her !" 

What  answer  could  I  have  made  to  such  a  speech,  had  my 
mind  been  sufficiently  at  ease  as  respects  my  sister  to  think  of 
any  thing  else  ?  As  it  was,  I  did  not  even  attempt  the  vain 
office  of  saying  any  thing  in  the  way  of  alleviating  my  compan 
ion's  keen  sense  of  the  misconduct  of  Rupert. 

"  Grace  is  then  worse  in  consequence  of  this  unhappy  rencon 
tre  ?"  I  observed,  rather  than  asked. 

"  Oh  !  Miles ;  what  a  conversation  I  have  had  with  her,  this 
afternoon !  She  speaks,  already,  more  like  a  being  that  be 
longs  to  the  regions  of  the  blessed,  than  like  one  of  earth  ! 
There  is  no  longer  any  secret  between  us.  She  would  gladly 
have  avoided  telling  me  her  precise  situation  with  Rupert,  but 
we  had  already  gone  so  far,  I  would  know  more.  I  thought  it 
might  relieve  her  mind ;  and  there  was  the  chance,  however 
slight,  of  its  enabling  us  to  suggest  some  expedient  to  produce 
still  further  good.  I  think  it  has  had  some  of  the  first  effect, 
for  she  is  now  sleeping." 

"  Did  Grace  say  any  thing  of  your  communicating  the  miser 
able  tale  to  me  ?" 

"  It  is,  indeed,  a  miserable  tale  !  Miles,  they  were  engaged 
from  the  time  Grace  was  fifteen !  Engaged  distinctly,  and  in 
terms,  I  mean ;  not  by  any  of  the  implied  understandings,  by 
which  those  who  were  so  intimate,  generally,  might  believe 
themselves  bound  to  each  other." 

"  And  in  what  manner  did  so  early  and  long-continued  an  en 
gagement  cease  ?" 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  73 

"  It  came  from  Rupert,  who  should  have  died  first,  before  he 
was  so  untrue  to  himself,  to  my  poor  father,  to  me,  to  all  of  us, 
Miles,  as  well  as  to  his  own  manhood.  It  has  been  as  we  sup 
posed  ;  he  has  been  deluded  by  the  eclat  that  attaches  to  these 
Mertons  in  our  provincial  society ;  and  Emily  is  rather  a  showy 
girl,  you  know — at  least  for  those  who  are  accustomed  only  to 
our  simple  habits." 

Alas !  little  did  Lucy  then  know — she  has  learned  better 
since — that  "  showy"  girls  belong  much  more  to  our  "  simple" 
state  of  society,  than  to  the  state  of  those  which  are  commonly 
conceived  to  be  more  advanced.  But  Emily  Merton  was,  in  a 
slight  degree,  more  artificial  in  manner  than  it  was  usual  for  a 
Manhattanese  female  of  that  day,  to  be,  and  this  was  what  Lucy 
meant ;  Lucy,  who  always  thought  so  humbly  of  herself,  and 
was  ever  so  ready  to  concede  to  her  rivals  all  that  could  plausi 
bly  be  asked  in  their  behalf. 

"I  am  well  aware  how  much  importance  the  leading  set 
among  ourselves  attaches  to  English  connection,  and  English 
rank,"  I  answered ;  "  but  it  does  not  strike  me  Emily  Merton 
is  of  a  class  so  elevated,  that  Rupert  Hardinge  need  break  his 
faith  in  order  to  reap  the  advantage  of  belonging  to  her  or  her 
family." 

"  It  cannot  be  altogether  that.  Miles,"  Lucy  added,  in  an 
appealing,  but  touchingly  confidential  manner,  "  you  and  I  have 
known  each  other  from  children,  and,  whatever  may  be  the 
weaknesses  of  one  who  is  so  dear  to  me,  and  who,  I  hope,  has 
not  altogether  lost  his  hold  on  your  own  affections,  we  can  still 
rely  on  each  other.  I  shall  speak  to  you  with  the  utmost  de 
pendence  on  your  friendship,  and  a  reliance  on  your  heart  that 
is  not  second  to  that  which  I  place  on  my  dear  father's ;  for  this 
is  a  subject  on  which  there  ought  to  be  no  concealment  between 
us.  It  is  impossible  that  one  as  manly,  as  upright,  as  honest,  I 
will  say,  as  yourself,  can  have  lived  so  long  in  close  intimacy 
with  Rupert,  and  not  be  aware  that  he  has  marked  defects  of 
character." 

"I  have  long  known  that  he  is  capricious,"  I  answered,  un- 


MILES      WALLIIJGFORD. 

willing  to  be  severe  on  the  faults  of  Lucy's  brother,  to  Lucy's 
own  ear ;  "  perhaps  I  might  add,  that  I  have  known  he  pays 
too  much  attention  to  fashion,  and  the  opinions  of  fashionable 
people." 

"  Nay,  as  vie  cannot  deceive  ourselves,  let  us  not  attempt  the 
ungrateful  task  of  endeavoring  to  deceive  each  other,"  the  true- 
hearted  girl  replied,  though  she  said  this  with  so  great  an  effort, 
that  I  was  compelled  to  listen  attentively  to  catch  all  she  uttered. 
"  Rupert  has  failings  worse  than  these.  He  is  mercenary ;  nor 
is  he  always  a  man  of  truth.  Heaven  knows  how  I  have  wept 
over  these  defects  of  character,  and  the  pain  they  have  given 
me  from  childhood !  But,  my  dear,  dear  father  overlooks  them 
all — or,  rather,  seeing  them,  he  hopes  all  things ;  it  is  hard  for 
a  parent  to  believe  a  child  irreclaimable." 

I  was  unwilling  to  let  Lucy  say  any  more  on  this  subject,  for 
her  voice,  her  countenance,  I  might  almost  say  her  whole  figure 
showed  how  much  it  cost  her  to  say  even  this  much  of  Rupert. 
I  had  long  known  that  Lucy  did  not  respect  her  brother  as 
much  as  she  could  wish ;  but  this  was  never  before  betrayed  to 
me  in  words,  nor  in  any  other  manner,  indeed,  that  would  not 
have  eluded  the  observation  of  one  who  knew  the  parties  less 
thoroughly  than  myself.  I  could  perceive  that  she  felt  the 
awful  consequences  she  foresaw  from  her  brother's  conduct  gave 
me  a  claim  on  her  sincerity,  and  that  she  was  suffering  martyr 
dom,  in  order  to  do  all  that  lay  in  her  power  to  lessen  the  force* 
of  the  blow  that  unworthy  relative  had  inflicted.  It  would  havo 
been  ungenerous  in  me  to  suffer  such  a  sacrifice  to  continue  a 
moment  longer  than  was  necessary. 

"  Spare  yourself  and  me,  dearest  Lucy,"  I  eagerly  said,  "  all 
explanations  but  those  which  are  necessary  to  let  me  know  the 
exact  state  of  my  sister's  case.  I  confess,  I  could  wish  to  un 
derstand,  however,  the  manner  in  which  Rupert  has  contrived 
to  explain  away  an  engagement  that  has  lasted  four  years,  and 
which  must  have  been  the  source  of  so  much  innocent  confi 
dence  between  Grace  and  himself." 

"  I  was  coming  to  that,  Miles ;  and  when   you  kt  .>w  it,  you 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  75 

will  kno\y  all.  Grace  has  felt  his  attentions  to  Emily  Merton, 
for  a  long  time ;  but  there  never  was  a  verbal  explanation  be 
tween  them  until  just  before  she  left  town.  Then  she  felt  it 
due  to  herself  to  know  the  truth ;  and,  after  a  conversation 
which  was  not  very  particular,  your  sister  offered  to  release 
Rupert  from  his  engagement,  did  he  in  the  least  desire  it." 

"  And  what  answer  did  he  make  to  a  proposal  that  was  as 
generous  as  it  was  frank  ?" 

"I  must  do  Grace  the  justice  to  say,  Miles,  that,  in  all  she 
said,  she  used  the  utmost  tenderness  toward  my  brother.  Still, 
I  could  not  but  gather  the  substance  of  what  passed.  Rupert, 
at  first,  affected  to  believe  that  Grace,  herself,  wished  to  break 
the  engagement ;  but,  in  this,  you  well  know,  her  ingenuous 
simplicity  would  not  permit  him  to  succeed.  She  did  not  at 
tempt  to  conceal  how  deeply  she  should  feel  the  change  in  her 
situation,  and  how  much  it  might  influence  her  future  happi 
ness." 

"Ay,  that  was  like  both  of  them — like  Rupert,  and  like 
Grace,"  I  muttered,  huskily. 

Lucy  continued  silent  an  instant,  apparently  to  allow  me  to 
regain  my  self-command ;  then  she  continued — 

"  When  Rupert  found  that  the  responsibility  of  the  rupture 
must  rest  on  him,  he  spoke  more  sincerely.  He  owned  to  Grace 
that  his  views  had  changed ;  said  they  were  both  too  young  to 
contract  themselves  when  they  did,  and  that  he  had  made  an 
engagement  to  marry,  at  a  time  Avhen  he  was  unfit  to  bind  him 
self  to  so  solemn  a  contract — said  something  about  minors,  and 
concluded  by  speaking  of  his  poverty  and  total  inability  to  sup 
port  a  wife,  now  that  Mrs.  Bradfort  had  left  me  the  whole  of 
her  property." 

"And  this  is  the  man  who  wishes  to  make  the  w)rld  beliovo 
that  he  is  the  true  heir ! — nay,  who  told  me,  himself,  that  he  con 
siders  you  as  only  a  sort  of  trustee,  to  hold  half,  or  two  thirds 
jf  the  estate  until  he  has  had  leisure  to  sow  his  wild  oats  !" 

"  I  know  he  has  encouraged  such  notions,  Miles,"  Lucy  an 
swered,  in  a  low  voice;  "how  gladly  would  I  realize  his  hopes, 


76  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

if  things  could  be  placed  where  we  once  thought  they  were  1 
Every  dollar  of  Mrs.  Bradfort's  fortune  would  I  relinquish  with 
joy,  to  see  Grace  happy,  or  Rupert  honest." 

"  I  am  afraid  we  shall  never  see  the  first,  Lucy,  in  this  world, 
at  least." 

"  I  have  never  wished  for  this  engagement  since  I  have  been 
old  enough  to  judge  of  my  brother's  true  character.  IIo 
woiild  ever  have  been  too  fickle,  and  of  principles  too  light,  to 
satisfy  Grace's  heart,  or  her  judgment.  There  may  have  been 
some  truth  in  his  plea  that  the  engagement  Avas  too  early  and 
inconsiderately  made.  Persons  so  young  can  hardly  know  what 
will,  or  what  will  not  be  necessary  to  their  own  characters  a  few 
years  later.  As  it  is,  even  Grace  would  now  refuse  to  marry 
Rupert.  She  owned  to  me,  that  the  heaviest  part  of  the  "blow 
was  being  undeceived  in  relation  to  his  character.  I  spoke  to 
her  with  greater  freedom  than  a  sister  ought  to  have  used,  per 
haps,  but  I  wished  to  arouse  her  pride,  as  the  means  of  saving 
her.  Alas !  Grace  is  all  affections,  and  those  once  withered,  I 
fear,  Miles,  the  rest  of  her  being  will  go  with  them." 

I  made  no  answer  to  this  prophetic  remark,  Lucy's  visit  to 
the  shore,  her  manner,  and  all  that  she  had  said,  convincing  me 
that  she  had,  in  a  great  degree,  taken  leave  of  hope.  We  con 
versed  some  time  longer,  returning  toward  the  cottage ;  but 
there  was  nothing  further  to  communicate  that  it  is  necessary 
to  record.  Neither  of  us  thought  of  self,  and  I  would  as  soon 
have  attempted  to  desecrate  a  church,  as  attempt  to  obtain  any 
influence  over  Lucy,  in  my  own  behalf,  at  such  a  moment.  All 
my  feelings  reverted  to  my  poor  sister  again,  and  I  was  dying 
with  impatience  to  return  to  the  sloop,  whither,  indeed,  it  was 
time  to  repair,  the  sun  having  some  time  before  disappeared, 
while  even  the  twilight  was  drawing  to  a  close. 


MILES      WALLINGFOR1J.  77 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  The  serpent  of  the  field,  by  art 
And  spells,  is  won  from  harming, 
But  that  which  coils  around  the  heart, 
Oh !  who  hath  power  of  charming." 

HEBREW  MKLODIES. 

IT  was  not  easy  to  make  Mr.  Hardinge  a  sharer  in  my  im 
patience.  He  had  taken  a  fancy  to  Marble,  and  was  as  much 
rejoiced  at  this  accidental  discovery  of  the  mate's  parentage,  as 
if  he  had  been  one  of  the  family  himself.  With  such  feelings, 
therefore,  I  had  a  good  deal  of  difficulty  in  getting  him  away. 
I  asked  Marble  to  go  off  with  me,  it  being  understood  that  he 
was  to  be  landed  again,  in  order  to  pass  the  first  night  of  his 
recognition  under  his  mother's  roof.  To  this  scheme,  however, 
he  raised  an  objection,  as  soon  as  told  it  was  my  intention  to  go 
down  the  river  as  far  as  New  York  in  quest  of  farther  medical 
advice,  insisting  on  accompanying  me,  in  order  to  obtain  the 
thousand  dollars  with  which  to  face  'Squire  Van  Tassel,  or,  at 
least,  his  mortgage  sale.  Accordingly,  there  were  leave-takings, 
and  about  eight  we  were  all  on  board  the  sloop. 

I  did  not  see,  nor  did  I  ask  to  see,  my  sister  again,  that  night. 
I  had  not  seen  her,  indeed,  since  the  moment  Rupert  was  dis 
covered  in  company  with  the  Mertons ;  and,  to  own  the  truth. 
I  felt  afraid  to  see  her,  knowing,  as  I  did,  how  much  her  frame 
was  apt  to  be  affected  by  her  mind.  It  appeared  to  me  there 
remained  but  the  single  duty  to  perform,  that  of  getting  below 
as  fast  as  possible,  in  order  to  obtain  the  needed  medical  aid.  It 
is  true,  we  possessed  Post's  written  instructions,  and  knew  his 
opinion  that  the  chief  thing  was  to  divert  Grace's  thoughts  from 
dwelling  on  the  great  cause  of  her  malady ;  but,  now  he  had  left 


MILES      WALLING  FORC. 

us,  it  seemed  as  if  I  should  neglect  a  most  sacred  duty,  did  1 
delay  obtaining  some  other  competent  physician. 

The  tide  turned  at  nine,  and  we  got  immediately  under  way, 
with  a  light  south-west  wind.  As  for  Marble,  ignorant  as  Mr. 
Ilardinge  himself  of  the  true  condition  of  my  sister,  he  deter 
mined  to  celebrate  his  recent  discoveries  by  a  supper.  I  was 
about  to  object  to  the  project,  on  account  of  Grace,  but  Lucy 
begged  me  to  let  him  have  his  way ;  such  convives  as  my  late 
guardian  and  my  own  mate  were  not  likely  to  be  very  boister 
ous  ;  and  she  fancied  that  the  conversation,  or  such  parts  of  it 
as  should  be  heard  through  the  bulkhead,  might  serve  to  divert 
the  invalid's  mind  from  dwelling  too  intently  on  the  accidental 
rencontre  of  the  morning.  The  scheme  was  consequently  car 
ried  out ;  and,  in  the  course  of  an  hour,  the  cabins  of  the  Wal- 
lingford  presented  a  singular  spectacle.  In  her  berth  was  Grace, 
patiently  and  sweetly  lending  herself  to  her  friend's  wish  to 
seem  to  listen  to  her  own  account  of  the  reason  of  the  mate's 
festa,  and  to  be  amused  by  his  sallies ;  Lucy,  all  care  and  atten 
tion  for  her  patient,  as  I  could  discover  through  the  open  door 
of  the  after-cabin,  while  she  endeavored  to  appear  to  enter  into 
the  business  that  was  going  on  at  the  table,  actually  taking  wine 
with  the  mate,  and  drinking  to  the  happiness  of  nis  newly-found 
relatives  ;  Mr.  Hardinge,  overflowing  with  philanthropy,  and  so 
much  engrossed  with  his  companion's  good  fortune  as  not  to 
think  of  aught  else  at  the  moment ;  Marble,  himself,  becoming 
gradually  more  under  the  influence  of  his  new  situation,  as  his 
feelings  had  tune  to  gather  force  and  take  their  natural  direc 
tion  ;  while  I  was  compelled  to  wear  the  semblance  of  joining 
in  his  festivities,  at  an  instant  when  my  whole  soul  was  en 
grossed  with  anxiety  on  behalf  of  Grace. 

"  This  mi'.k  is  just  the  richest  and  best  that  ever  came  on 
board  a  vessel !"  exclaimed  the  mate,  as  he  was  about  to  wind 
up  his  own  share  of  the  repast  with  a  cup  of  coffee — "  and  as 
for  butter,  I  can  say  I  never  tasted  the  article  before.  Little 
Kitty  brought  both  down  to  the  boat  with  her  own  hands,  and 
that  makes  them  so  much  the  sweeter,  too,  for  if  any  thing  can 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  79 

add  to  the  excellence  of  eatables,  it  is  to  have  them  pass  through 
the  hands  of  one's  own  relations.  I  dare  say,  Mr.  Hardinge,  now, 
you  have  verified  this,  time  and  again,  in  your  own  experience?" 

"  In  feeling,  my  friend ;  in  feeling,  often,  though  little  in 
practice,  in  the  sense  that  you  mean.  My  family  has  been  my 
congregation,  unless,  indeed,  Miles  here,  and  his  beloved  sister, 
can  be  added  to  my  own  children  in  fact,  as  they  certainly  arc 
in  affection.  But,  I  can  understand  how  butter  made  by  the 
hands  of  one's  own  mother,  or  by  those  of  such  a  pretty  niece 
as  your  Kitty,  would  taste  all  the  sweeter." 

"  It's  such  a  providential  thing,  as  you  call  it,  to  find  such  a 
mother  in  the  bargain !  Now  I  might  have  discovered  a  slattern, 
or  a  scold,  or  a  Avoman  of  bad  character ;  or  one  that  never 
went  to  church ;  or  even  one  that  swore  and  drank ;  for,  beg 
ging  your  pardon,  Miss  Lucy,  just  such  creatur's  are  to  be  met 
with ;  whereas,  instead  of  any  of  these  disagreeable  recommen 
dations,  I've  fallen  in  with  an  A  No.  1  mother  ;  ay,  and  such  an 
old  lady  as  the  King  of  England,  himself,  need  not  be  ashamed 
to  own.*  I  felt  a  strong  desire,  Mr.  Hardinge,  to  get  down  on 
my  knees,  and  to  ask  the  dear,  good  old  soul,  just  to  say,  '  God 
bless  you,  my  dear  son,  Moses,  Van  Duzer,  or  Oloff,  whatever 
your  name  may  be.' " 

"  And  if  you  had,  Mr.  Marble,  you  would  not  have  been  any 
the  worse  for  it.  Such  feelings  do  you  honor,  and  no  man  need 
be  ashamed  of  desiring  to  receive  a  parent's  blessing." 

"  I  suppose  now,  my  dear  sir,"  added  Marble,  innocently, 
"  that  is  what  is  called  having  a  religious  turn  ?  I've  often  fore 
seen  that  religion  would  fetch  me  up,  in  the  long  run  ;  and  now 
that  I  am  altogether  relieved  from  bitterness  of  heart  on  the 
subject  of  belonging  to  none,  and  no  one's  belonging  to  me,  my 
sentiments  have  undergone  a  great  alteration,  and  I  feel  a  wish 
to  be  at  peace  with  the  whole  human  family — no,  not  with  the 
whole;  I  except  that  rascally  old  Van  Tassel." 

*  In  that  day,  all  allusions  to  royalty  were  confined  to  tho  majesty  of  Great  Britain ; 
it  being  no  uncommon  thing,  at  tho  commencement  of  this  century,  to  hear  "77<e 
Iviu^''  toasted  at  many  of  the  best  tables  of  tho  country. 


80  MILES     W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D . 

"  You  must  except  no  one — we  are  told  to  'love  those  that 
hate  us,  to  bless  those  that  curse  us,  aud  to  pray  for  those  that 
despitefully  use  us.'  " 

Marble  stared  at  Mr.  Hardinge ;  for,  to  own  the  truth,  it 
would  have  been  difficult,  in  a  Christian  land,  to  meet  with  one 
of  his  years  who  had  less  religious  instruction  than  himself.  It 
is  quite  probable  that  these  familiar  mandates  had  never  been 
heard  by  him  before ;  but  I  could  see  that  he  was  a  little  struck 
with  the  profound  morality  that  pervaded  them  ;  a  morality  to 
which  no  human  heart  appears  to  be  so  insensible  as  not  in 
secret  to  acknowledge  its  sublimity.  Still  he  doubted. 

"  Where  are  we  told  to  do  this,  my  dear  sir  ?"  demanded 
Marble,  after  looking  intently  at  the  rector  for  a  moment. 

"  Where  ?  Avhy,  where  we  get  all  our  divine  precept  and  in 
spired  morality,  the  Bible.  You  must  come  to  wish  this  Mr. 
Van  Tassel  good,  instead  of  evil ;  try  to  love,  instead  of  hating 
him." 

"  Is  that  religion  ?"  demanded  the  mate,  in  his  most  dogmati 
cal  and  determined  manner. 

"  It  is  Christianity  —  its  spirit,  its  very  essence ;  without 
which  the  heart  cannot  be  right,  let  the  tongue  proclaim  what 
delusion  it  may." 

Marble  had  imbibed  a  sincere  respect  for  my  late  guardian, 
equally  from  what  he  had  heard  me  say  in  his  favor,  and  what 
he  had  seen  himself,  of  his  benevolent  feelings,  kind-hearted 
morality,  and  excellent  sense.  Nevertheless,  it  was  not  an  easy 
matter  to  teach  a  being  like  Marble  the  lesson  that  he  was  to  do 
good  to  those  who  used  him  despitefully ;  and  just  at  that  mo 
ment  he  was  in  a  frame  of  mind  to  do  almost  any  thing  else, 
sooner  than  pardon  Van  Tassel.  All  this  I  could  see,  under 
standing  the  man  so  well,  and,  in  order  to  prevent  a  useless  dis 
cussion  that  might  disturb  my  sister,  I  managed  to  change  the 
discourse  before  it  was  too  late ;  I  say  too  late,  because  it  is 
not  easy  to  shake  off  two  moralists  who  sustain  their  doctrines 
as  strongly  as  Mr.  llardinge  and  my  mate. 

"  I  am  glad  the  name  of  this  Mr.  Van  Tassel  has  been  men- 


MILES      AVALLINGFORD.  81 

tioiied,"  I  observed,  "  as  it  maybe  well  to  have  your  advice,  sir, 
concerning  our  best  mode  of  proceeding  in  his  affair." 

I  then  related  to  Mr.  Hardinge  the  history  of  the  mortgage, 
and  the  necessity  there  -was  for  promptitude,  inasmuch  as  the 
sale  was  advertised  for  the  ensuing  week.  My  late  guardian 
was  better  acquainted  with  the  country,  up  the  river,  than  1 
was  myself;  and  it  was  fortunate  the  subject  was  broached,  as 
he  soon  convinced  me  the  only  course  to  be  pursued  was  to 
put  Marble  ashore  at  Hudson,  where,  if  too  late  for  the  regular 
stage,  he  might  obtain  some  other  conveyance,  and  proceed  to 
town  by  land.  This  would  barely  leave  him  time  to  transact  all 
the  necessary  business,  and  to  be  back  in  season  to  prevent  the 
title  to  the  Willow  Cove  from  passing  into  the  usurer's  grasp. 
As  was  usual  with  Mr.  Hardinge,  he  entered  into  this,  as  into 
every  good  work,  heart  and  hand,  and  immediately  set  about 
writing  directions  for  Marble's  government  when  he  got  ashore. 
This  put  an  end  to  the  banquet,  and  glad  was  I  to  see  the  table 
removed,  and  the  other  signs  of  a  tranquil  night  reappear. 

It  was  twelve  before  the  sloop  Avas  as  low  as  Hudson,  and  I 
saw  by  our  rate  of  sailing,  that,  indeed,  there  was  little  prospect 
of  her  reaching  New  York  in  time  for  Marble's  necessities.  He 
was  landed,  therefore,  and  Mr.  Hardinge  and  myself  accom 
panied  him  to  the  stage-house,  where  we  ascertained  that  the 
next  morning  after  breakfast  he  would  be  enabled  to  get  into 
the  stage,  which  would  reach  town  in  the  evening  of  the  suc 
ceeding  day.  But  this  was  altogether  too  slow  for  Marble's  im 
patience.  He  insisted  on  procuring  a  private  conveyance,  and 
we  saw  him  drive  out  of  the  long  street  that  then  composed 
most  of  the  city  of  Hudson,  at  a  slapping  pace,  about  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  This  important  duty  discharged,  Mr. 
llardinge  and  I  returned  to  the  sloop  in  which  Neb  had  been 
standing  off  and  on,  in  waiting  for  us,  and  again  made  sail  down 
the  river.  When  I  turned  in,  the  Wallingford  was  getting  along 
at  the  rate  of  about  five  miles  the  hour ;  the  wind  having  fresh 
ened,  and  come  6ut  at  the  westward,  a  quarter  that  just  enabled 
her  to  lav  her  course. 


MILES      WALLINGFOIID. 


The  reader  will  easily  imagine  I  did  not  oversleep  myself  the 
following  morning.  My  uneasiness  was  so  great,  indeed,  that  I 
dreamed  of  the  dreadful  accident  which  had  produced  my  fa 
ther's  death,  and  then  fancied  that  I  saw  him,  my  mother,  and 
Grace,  all  interred  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  grave. 
Fortunately,  the  wind  stood  at  the  west,  and  the  sloop  was  al 
ready  within  twenty  miles  of  the  creek  at  Clawbonny  when  I  got 
on  deck.  All  was  quiet  in  the  after-cabin,  and  Mr.  Hardinge 
still  continuing  in  his  berth,  I  went  out  to  breathe  the  fresh 
morning  air,  without  speaking  to  any  below.  There  was  no 
one  on  the  quarter-deck  but  the  pilot,  who  was  at  the  helm, 
though  I  saw  a  pair  of  legs  beneath  the  boom,  close  in  with  the 
mast,  that  I  knew  to  be  Neb's,  and  a  neat,  dark  petticoat  that  I 
felt  certain  must  belong  to  Chloc.  I  approached  the  spot,  in 
tending  to  question  the  former  on  the  subject  of  the  weather 
during  his  watch,  but  just  as  about  to  hail  him,  I  heard  the 
young  lady  say,  in  a  more  animated  tone  than  was  discreet  for 
the  character  of  the  conversation — 

"  No,  nebber,  sah — nebber,  widout  do  apperbation  of  my  mod- 
dor  and  do  whole  famerly.  Mattcnnony  a  berry  differ  ting,  Neb, 
from  what  you  surposes.  Now  many  a  young  nigger  gentleman 
imagine  dat  he  has  only  to  coax  his  gal  to  say  '  yes,'  and  den 
dey  goes  to  de  clergy  and  stands  up  for  de  blessin',  and  imagines 
all  right  for  de  futur',  and  for  de  present  time,  all  which  is  just 
a  derlusion  and  a  derception.  No,  sah,  mattermony  a  berry 
differ  t'ing  from  dat,  as  any  old  lady  can  tell  you.  De  fuss  t'ing 
in  mattermony  is  to  hab  a  consent." 

"  Well,  Chloc,  and  hab'n't  I  had  dis  berry  consent  from  you 
now  for  most  two  year?" 

"Ay,  dat  not  de  consent  I  surposes.  You  wouldn't  t'iuk,  Neb, 
ongrateful  feller,  to  get  marry,  widout  first  askin'  de  consent  of 
Masser  Mile,  I  do  surpose  !  You,  who  has  been  his  own  waiter 
so  long,  and  has  gone  to  sea  wid  him  so  often,  and  has  saved 
his  life,  and  has  helped  kill  so  many  hateful  saverges,  and  has 
been  on  a  desert  conterncnt  wid  him." 

"  I  nebber  told  you  dat,  Chloe — I  said  on  an  island." 


MILES     AVALLINGFORD.  83 

"  Well,  what's  the  differ  ?  You  cannot  tell  me  any  t'ing  of 
edercation,  Neb,  for  I  hab  hear  Miss  Grace  and  Miss  Lucy  say 
deir  lesson  so  often  dat  I  sometimes  surposes  I  can  say  'em  all, 
one  by  one,  almost  as  well  as  my  young  lady  'emselves.  No, 
Neb,  on  dat  subject  better  be  silent.  You  been  much  too  busy 
ebber  to  be  edercated,  and  if  I  do  marry  you,  remember  I  now 
tell  you  I  shall  not  enter  into  mattermony  wid  you  on  account 
of  any  edercation  you  hab." 

"All  Clawbonny  say  dat  we  can  make  as  good  a  couple, 
Chloc,  as  ebber  stood  up  togedder." 

"All  Clawbonny  don't  know  much  of  mattermony,  Neb. 
People  talks  inderskrimernaterly,  and  doesn't  know  what  dey 
says,  too  often.  In  de  fuss  place  my  modder,  my  own  born 
modder,  upposes  our  uner,  and  dat  is  a  very  great  differculty  to 
begin  wid.  When  a  born  modeler  upposes,  a  darter  ought  to 
t'ink  sebbcral  time." 

"  Let  me  speak  to  Masscr  Mile ;  he'll  fetch  up  her  objcckslum 
wid  a  round  turn." 

"  What  dat,  Neb  ?" 

"  It  mean  masser  Avill  order  her  to  consent." 

"  Dat  nebber  saterfy  my  conscience,  Neb.  We  be  nigger, 
dat  true,  but  no  Clawbonny  master  ebber  tell  a  Clawbonny  slabe 
to  get  marry  or  not  to  get  many,  as  he  choose.  Dat  would 
be  intollabull,  and  not  to  be  supported !  No,  mattermony  is 
religion,  and  religion  free.  No  color'  young  lady  hab  vergin  af- 
feckshun  to  t'row  'em  away  on  just  whom  her  masser  say.  But, 
Neb,  dere  one  odder  differculty  to  our  uner  dat  I  don't  know — 
sometime  I  feel  awful  about  it !" 

As  Chloe  now  spoke  naturally,  for  the  first  tune,  Neb  was 
evidently  startled,  and  I  had  sufficient  amusement  and  sufficient 
curiosity  to  remain  stationary  in  order  to  hear  Avhat  this  new 
obstacle  might  be.  The  voice  of  the  negress  was  music  itself, 
almost  as  sweet  as  Lucy's,  and  I  was  struck  with  a  light  tremor 
that  pervaded  it,  as  she  so  suddenly  put  an  end  to  all  her  own 
affectation  of  sentiment,  and  nipped  her  airs  and  graces,  as  it 
might  be,  in  the  bud. 


84  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  Nobbcr  4alk  to  me  of  rnattermony,  Neb,"  Chloe  continued, 
almost  sobbing  as  she  spoke,  "  while  Miss  Grace  be  in  dis  berry 
bad  way !  It  hard  enough  to  see  her  look  so  pale  and  meler- 
tfholy,  without  t'inking  of  becomin'  a  wife." 

"  Miss  Grace  will  grow  better,  now  Masser  Mile  carry  her  on 
de  water.  If  he  only  take  her  to  sea,  she  get  so  fat  and  hearty, 
no  libbin'  wid  her  !" 

Chloe  did  not  acquiesce  in  this  opinion  ;  she  rather  insisted 
that  "Miss  Grace"  was  altogether  too  delicate  and  refined  :i 
person  to  live  in  a  ship.  But  the  circumstance  that  struck  me 
with  the  greatest  force,  in  this  characteristic  dialogue,  Avas  the 
fact  that  Chloe  betrayed  to  me  the  consciousness  of  the  cause 
of  my  sister's  indisposition ;  while,  true  to  her  sex's  instincts, 
and  faithful  to  her  duty,  the  girl  completely  concealed  it  from 
her  lover.  I  was  also  oppressively  struck  with  the  melancholy 
forebodings  that  appeared  in  Chloe's  manner,  rather  than  in  her 
words,  and  which  made  it  apparent  that  she  doubted  of  her 
young  mistress's  recovery.  She  concluded  the  conversation  by 
saying — 

"  No,  no,  Neb,  don't  talk  to  me  of  mattermony  while  Miss 
Grace  so  ill ;  and  if  any  t'ing  should  happen,  you  need  nebber 
talk  to  me  of  it  at  all.  I  could  nebber  t'ink  of  any  uuer 
(union)  should  any  t'ing  happen  to  Miss  Grace.  Lub  (love) 
will  die  forebber  in  de  family,  when  Miss  Grace  die !" 

I  turned  away  at  this  speech,  the  tears  starting  to  my  eyes, 
and  saw  Lucy  standing  in  the  companion-way.  She  was  wait 
ing  to  speak  to  me,  and  no  sooner  caught  my  eye,  than,  beckon 
ing  me  to  her  side,  she  let  me  know  that  my  sister  desired  to  see 
me.  Erasing  every  sign  of  emotion  as  soon  as  possible,  I  descend 
ed  with  Lucy,  and  was  soon  at  the  side  of  my  sister's  berth. 

Grace  received  me  with  an  angelic  smile ;  but  I  almost  gasped 
for  breath  as  I  noticed  the  prodigious  change  that  had  come 
over  her  in  so  brief  a  space.  She  now  looked  more  like- a  being 
of  another  world  than  ever ;  and  this,  too,  immediately  after 
coming  from  the  refreshment  of  a  night's  rest.  I  kissed  her 
forehead,  which  had  an  unnatural  chill  on  it,  I  thought ;  and  I 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  85 

felt  the  feeble  pressure  of  an  arm  that  was  thrown  affectionately 
around  my  neck.  I  tLcn  sat  down  on  the  transom,  still  holding 
my  sister's  hand.  Grace  looked  anxiously  at  me  for  half  a  min 
ute  ere  she  spoke,  as  if  to  ascertain  how  far  I  was  conscious  of 
her  situation. 

"  Lucy  tells  me,  brother,"  she  at  length  said,  "  that  you  think 
of  carrying  me  down  the  river,  as  far  as  town,  in  order  to  get 
further  advice.  I  hope  this  is  a  mistake  of  our  dear  Lucy's, 
however?" 

"  It  is  not,  Grace.  If  the  wind  stand  here  at  the  westward,  I 
hope  to  have  you  in  Lucy's  own  house  in  Wall  street,  by  to 
morrow  evening.  I  know  she  will  receive  you  hospitably,  and 
have  ventured  to  form  the  plan  without  consulting  you  on  the 
subject." 

"  Better  that  I  should  be  at  Clawbonny — if  any  thing  can  now 
do  me  good,  brother,  it  will  be  native  air,  and  pure  country  air. 
Hearken  to  my  request,  and  stop  at  the  creek." 

"  Your  serious  request,  Grace,  will  be  a  law  to  me,  if  made  on 
due  reflection.  This  growing  feebleness,  however,  alarms  me ; 
and  I  cannot  justify  it  to  myself  not  to  send  for  advice." 

"  Remember,  Miles,  it  is  not  yet  twenty-four  hours  since  one 
of  the  ablest  men  of  the  country  saw  me.  We  have  his  written 
instructions ;  and,  all  that  man  can  do  for  me,  they  will  do  for 
me.  'No,  brother;  listen  to  my  entreaties,  and  go  into  the 
creek.  I  pine,  I  pine  to  be  again  at  dear  Clawbonny,  where 
alone  I  can  enjoy  any  thing  like  peace  of  body  or  mind.  This 
vessel  is  unsuited  to  me  ;  I  cannot  think  of  a  future  or  pray  in 
it.  Brother,  dearest  brother,  carry  me  home,  if  you  love  me  !" 

There  was  no  resisting  such  an  appeal.  I  went  on  deck  with 
a  heavy  heart,  and  gave  the  necessary  orders  to  the  pilot ;  and, 
in  about  eight-and-forty  hours  after  we  emerged  into  the  Hud 
son,  we  left  that  noble  stream  again  to  shoot  beneath  the  shaded, 
leafy  banks  of  our  own  inlet.  Grace  was  so  feeble  as  to  be  car 
ried  to  the  chaise,  in  which  she  was  supported  by  Lucy,  during 
the  short  drive  to  the  house.  When  I  reached  my  own  dwell 
ing,  I  found  Mr.  llardinge  pacing  the  little  portico,  or  piazza, 


86  MILES      \VALLINGFORD. 

waiting  for  my  arrival,  with  an  uneasiness  of  manner  that  at 
once  proclaimed  his  anxiety  to  see  me.  lie  had  driven  the 
horse  of  the  chaise,  and  had  imbibed  a  first  impression  of  Grace's 
danger. 

"  Miles,  my  dear  boy — my  second  son,"  the  simple-hearted, 
excellent  old  man  commenced ;  "  Miles,  my  dear  boy,  the  hand 
of  God  has  been  laid  heavily  on  us — your  beloved  sister,  my 
own  precious  Grace,  is  far  more  ill  than  I  had  any  idea  of,  bo- 
fore  this  morning." 

"  She  is  in  the  hands  of  her  merciful  Creator,"  I  said,  strug 
gling  to  command  myself,  "  who,  I  greatly  fear,  is  about  to  call 
her  from  a  world  that  is  not  good  enough  for  one  so  innocent 
and  pure,  to  take  her  to  himself.  I  have  foreseen  this  from  the 
hour  I  first  met  her,  after  my  return ;  though  a  single  ray  of 
hope  dawned  on  me,  when  Post  advised  the  change  of  scene. 
So  far  from  producing  good,  this  excursion  has  produced  evil ; 
and  she  is  much  worse  than  when  we  left  home." 

"  Such  short-sighted  mortals  are  we !  But  what  can  we  do, 
my  boy  ?  I  confess  my  judgment,  my  faculties  themselves,  are 
nearly  annihilated  by  the  suddenness  of  this  shock.  I  had  sup 
posed  her  illness  some  trifling  complaint  that  youth  and  caro 
would  certainly  remove ;  and  here  we  stand,  as  it  might  be,  at 
the  call  of  the  trumpet's  blast,  almost  around  her  grave !" 

"  I  am  most  anxious  to  lean  on  your  wisdom  and  experience, 
my  dear  sir,  at  this  critical  moment ;  if  you  will  advise,  I  shall 
be  happy  to  follow  your  instructions." 

"  We  must  lean  on  God,  Miles,"  answered  my  worthy  guar 
dian,  still  pacing  the  piazza,  the  tears  running  down  his  cheeks 
in  streams,  and  speaking  so  huskily  as  barely  to  be  intelligible ; 
"  yes,  we  will  have  the  prayers  of  the  congregation  next  Sunday 
morning ;  and  most  devout  and  heartfelt  prayers  they  Avill  be ; 
for  her  own  sainted  mother  was  not  more  deservedly  loved !  To 
be  called  away  so  young — to  die  in  the  first  bloom  of  youth  and 
loveliness,  as  it  were — but,  it  is  to  go  to  her  God !  We  must 
endeavor  to  think  of  her  gain — to  rejoice  over,  rather  than 
mourn  her  loss." 


MILES      WALLINGFOBD.  87 

"  I  grieve  to  perceive  that  you  regard  my  sister's  case  as  so 
entirely  hopeless,  sir." 

"  Hopeless  !  It  is  full  of  the  brightest  promise  ;  and  when  I 
come  to  look  calmly  at  it,  my  reason  tells  me  I  ought  not  to 
grieve.  Still,  Miles,  the  loss  of  Lucy,  herself,  would  scarce  be 
a  more  severe  blow  to  me.  I  have  loved  her  from  childhood, 
cared  for  her  as  for  one  of  my  own,  and  feel  the  same  love  for 
her  that  I  should  feel  for  a  second  daughter.  Your  parents 
wero  dear  to  me,  and  their  children  have  always  appeared  to 
me  to  belong  to  my  own  blood.  Had  I  not  been  your  guar 
dian,  boy,  and  you  and  Grace  been  comparatively  so  rich,  while 
I  and  mine  were  so  poor,  it  would  have  been  the  first  wish  of 
my  heart  to  have  seen  Rupert  and  Grace,  you  and  Lucy,  united, 
which  would  have  made  you  all  my  beloved  children  alike.  I 
often  thought  of  this,  until  I  found  it  necessary  to  repress  the 
hope,  lest  I  should  prove  unfaithful  to  my  trust.  Now,  indeed, 
Mrs.  Bradfort's  bequest  might  have  smoothed  over  every  diffi 
culty  ;  but  it  came  too  late  !  It  was  not  to  be ;  Providence  had 
ordered  otherwise." 

"You  had  an  ardent  supporter  of  your  scheme  in  one  of 
your  children,  at  least,  sir." 

"  So  you  have  given  me  to  understand,  Miles,  and  I  regret 
that  I  was  informed  of  the  fact  so  late,  or  I  might  have  con 
trived  to  keep  off  other  young  men  while  you  were  at  sea,  or 
until  an  opportunity  offered  to  enable  you  to  secure  my  daugh 
ter's  affections.  That  done,  neither  time  nor  distance  could 
have  displaced  you ;  the  needle  not  being  more  true  than  Lucy, 
or  the  laws  of  nature  more  certain." 

"The  knowledge  of- these  sterling  qualities,  sir,  only  makes 
me  regret  my  having  come  too  late,  so  much  the  more." 

"It  was  not  to  be;  at  one  time,  I  did  think  Rupert  and 
Grace  had  a  preference  for  each  other ;  but  I  must  have  been 
deceived.  God  had  ordered  it  otherwise,  and  Avisely  no  doubt ; 
as  his  omniscience  foresaw  the  early  drooping  of  this  lovely 
flower.  I  suppose  their  having  been  educated  together,  so 
much  like  brother  and  sister,  has  been  the  reason  there  was  so 


88  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

much  indifference  to  each  other's  merits.  You  have  been  an 
exception  on  account  of  your  long  absences,  Miles,  and  you  must 
look  to  those  absences  for  the  consolation  and  relief  you  will 
doubtless  require.  Alas !  alas !  that  I  could  not  now  fold  Grace 
to  my  heart,  as  a  daughter  and  a  bride,  instead  of  standing  over 
her  grave  !  Nothing  but  Rupert's  diffidence  of  his  own  claims, 
during  our  days  of  poverty,  could  have  prevented  him  from  sub 
mitting  himself  to  so  much  loveliness  and  virtue.  I  acquit  the 
lad  of  insensibLity  ;  for  nothing  but  the  sense  of  poverty,  and 
the  pride  of  a  poor  gentleman,  added  perhaps  to  the  brotherly 
regard  he  has  always  felt  for  Grace,  could  have  kept  him  from 
seeking  her  hand.  Grace,  properly  enough,  would  have  requited 
his  affection." 

Such  is  a  specimen  of  the  delusion  under  which  we  live  daily. 
Here  was  my  sister  dying  of  blighted  affections  under  my  own 
roof;  and  the  upright,  conscientious  father  of  the  wretch  who 
had  produced  this  withering  evil,  utterly  unconscious  of  the 
wrong  that  had  been  done,  still  regarding  his  son  with  the  par 
tiality  and  indulgence  of  a  fond  parent.  To  me,  it  seemed  in 
credible  at  the  time,  that  unsuspecting  integrity  could  cany  its 
simplicity  so  far;  but  I  have  since  lived  long  enough  to  know 
that  mistakes  like  these  are  constantly  occurring  around  us ; 
effects  being  hourly  attributed  to  causes  with  which  they  have 
no  connection,  and  causes  being  followed  down  to  effects,  that 
are  as  imaginary  as  human  sagacity  is  faulty.  As  for  myself,  I 
can  safely  say,  that  in  scarce  a  circumstance  of  my  life  that  has 
brought  me  the  least  under  the  cognizance  of  the  public,  have  I 
ever  been  judged  justly.  In  various  instances  have  I  been  praised 
for  acts  that  were  either  totally  without  any  merit,  or,  at  least, 
the  particular  merit  imputed  to  them ;  while  I  have  been  even 
persecuted  for  deeds  that  deserved  praise.  An  instance  or  two 
of  the  latter  of  these  cases  of  the  false  judgment  of  the  Avorld 
will  be  laid  before  the  reader  as  I  proceed. 

Mr.  Hardinge  continued  for  some  time  to  expatiate  on  the 
loveliness  of  Grace's  character,  and  to  betray  the  weight  of  the 
blow  he  had  received  in  gaining  this  sudden  knowledge  of  her 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  K  D .  89 

danger.  He  seemed  to  pass  all  at  once  from  a  state  of  inconsid 
erate  security  to  one  of  total  hopelessness,  and  found  tlie  shock 
so  much  harder  to  endure.  At  length  he  sent  for  Lucy,  -with 
whom  he  continued  closeted  for  near  an  hour.  I  ascertained, 
afterward,  that  he  questioned  the  dear  girl  closely  on  the  sub 
ject  of  my  sister's  malady;  even  desiring  to  know  if  her  affec 
tions  were  any  way  connected  with  this  extraordinary  sinking 
of  the"  vital  powers,  but  not  in  the  slightest  degree  inclining  to 
the  distrust  of  Rupert's  being  in  any  manner  implicated  in  the 
affair.  Lucy,  truthful  and  frank  as  she  was,  felt  the  uselessness 
nay,  the  danger,  of  enlightening  her  father,  and  managed  to 
evade  all  his  more  delicate  inquiries  without  involving  herself 
in  falsehoods.  She  well  knew  if  he  were  apprised  of  the  real 
state  of  the  case,  that  Rupert  Avould  have  been  sent  for,  and 
every  reparation  it  was  in  his  power  to  make  would  have  been 
insisted  on  as  an  act  of  justice ;  a  hopeless  and  distressing  at 
tempt  to  restore  the  confidence  of  unbounded  love,  and  the 
esteem  which,  once  lost,  is  gone  forever.  Perhaps  the  keenest 
of  all  Grace's  sufferings  proceeded  from  the  consciousness  of 
the  total  want  of  merit  in  the  man  she  had  so  effectually  en 
shrined  in  her  heart,  that  he  could  only  be  ejected  by  breaking 
in  pieces  and  utterly  destroying  the  tenement  that  had  so  long 
contained  him.  With  ordinary  natures,  this  change  of  opinion 
might  have  sufficed  for  the  purposes  of  an  effectual  cure,  but 
my  poor  sister  was  differently  constituted.  She  had  ever  been 
different  from  most  of  her  sex  in  intensity  of  feeling,  and  had 
come  near  dying,  while  still  a  child,  on  the  occasion  of  the  dire 
ful  catastrophe  of  my  father's  loss ;  and  the  decease  of  even  our 
mother,  though  long  expected,  had  come  near  to  extinguish  the 
flame  of  life  in  the  daughter.  As  I  have  already  said  more  than 
once  a  being  so  sensitive  and  so  pure,  ever  seemed  better  fitted 
for  the  regions  of  bliss,  than  for  the  collisions  and  sorrows  of 
the  world. 

Now  we  were  at  Clawbonny  again,  I  scarce  knew  how  to  cm- 
ploy  myself.  Grace  I  could  not  see ;  Lucy,  who  took  the  entire 
management  of  the  invalid,  requiring  for  her  rest  and  quiet.  In 


90  MILES      WALLINGFOKD. 

tliis  she  did  but  follow  the  directions  of  reason,  as  well  AS  those 
left  by  Post,  and  I  was  fain  to  yield,  knowing  that  my  sister 
could  r.ot  possibly  have  a  more  judicious  or  a  more  tender 
nurse. 

The  different  persons  belonging  to  the  mill  and  the  farm  came 
to  me  for  directions,  which  I  was  compelled  to  give  with  thoughts 
engrossed  with  the  state  of  my  sister.  More  than  once  I  endeav 
ored  to  arouse  myself,  and  for  a  few  minutes  seemed  to  enter, 
if  I  did  not  truly  enter,  with  interest  into  the  affairs  presented 
to  my  consideration ;  but  these  little  rallies  were  merely  so  many 
attempts  at  self-delusion,  and  I  finally  referred  every  thing  to  the 
respective  persons  entrusted  with  the  different  branches  of  the 
duty,  bidding  them  act  as  they  had  been  accustomed  to  do  in 
my  absence. 

"  Why,  yes,  Masser  Mile,"  answered  the  old  negro  who  was 
the  head  man  in  the  field,  "  dis  berry  Avell,  if  he  can  do  it.  Re 
member  I  alway  hab  Masser  Hardinge  to  talk  to  me  about  'c 
crop,  and  sich  t'ing,  and  dat  a  won'crful  help  to  a  poor  nigger 
when  he  in  a  nonplush." 

"  Surely,  Hiram,  you  are  a  better  husbandman  than  Mr.  Har 
dinge  and  myself  put  together,  and  cannot  want  the  advice  of 
cither  to  tell  you  how  to  raise  corn,  or  to  get  in  hay !" 

"  Dat  berry  true,  sah — so  true,  I  won't  deny  him.  But  you 
know  how  it  be,  Masser  Mile ;  a  nigger  do  lub  to  talk,  and  it 
help  along  work  won'crfully,  to  get  a  good  dispute,  afore  he 
begin." 

As  respects  the  blacks,  this  was  strictly  true.  Though  as 
respectful  as  slavery  and  habit  could  make  them,  they  were 
so  opinionated  and  dogmatical,  each  in  his  or  her  sphere,  that 
nothing  short  of  a  downright  assertion  of  authority  could  pro 
duce  submission  to  any  notions  but  their  own.  They  loved  to 
argue  the  different  points  connected  with  their  several  duties, 
but  they  did  not  like  to  be  convinced.  Mr.  Hardinge  would 
discuss  with  them,  from  a  sense  of  duty,  and  he  would  invari 
ably  yield,  unless  in  cases  that  involved  moral  principles.  On 
all  such  points,  and  they  were  not  of  unfrcqucnt  occurrence  in 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  11  D .  01 

a  family  of  so  many  blacks,  he  was  as  inflexible  as  the  laws  of 
the  Medes  and  Persians ;  but,  as  respected  the  wheat,  the  pota 
toes,  the  orchards,  the  mill,  or  the  sloop,  he  usually  submitted 
to  the  experience  of  those  more  familiar  with  the  business,  after 
having  discussed  the  matters  in  council.  This  rendered  him 

O 

exceedingly  popular  at  Clawbonny,  the  persuaded  usually  hav 
ing  the  same  sort  of  success  in  the  world  as  a  good  listener.  As 
for  the  rector  himself,  after  so  many  long  discussions,  he  began 
to  think  he  had  actually  influenced  the  different  steps  adopted , 
the  cause  of  one  of  the  illusions  I  have  already  portrayed. 

Old  Hiram  did  not  quit  me  when  he  came  for  instructions, 
alias  a  "  dispute,"  without  a  word  of  inquiry  touching  Grace.  I 
could  see  that  the  alarm  had  passed  among  the  slaves,  and  it 
was  quite  touching  to  note  the  effect  it  produced  on  their  sim 
ple  minds.  It  would  have  been  sufficient  for  them  to  love  her, 
that  Grace  was  their  young  mistress ;  but  such  a  mistress  as  she 
had  ever  been,  and  one  so  winning  in  manner  and  person,  they 
might  be  said  almost  to  worship  her. 

"  I  berry  sorry  to  hear  Miss  Grace  be  onwell,  sah,"  said  old 
Hiram,  looking  at  me  sorrowfully.  "  It  go  hard  wid  us  all,  if 
any  t'ing  happen  dere  !  I  alway  s'pose,  Masser  Mile,  dat  Miss 
Grace  and  Masser  Rupert  come  togeder,  some  time ;  as  we  all 
expects  you  and  Miss  Lucy  will.  Dem  are  happy  days,  sah,  at 
Clawbonny,  for  den  we  all  know  our  new  masser  and  new  missus 
from  de  cradle.  No,  no — we  can  ncbber  spare  Miss  Grace,  sah ; 
even  I  should  miss  her  in  'e  field !" 

The  very  blacks  had  observed  the  state  of  things  which  had 
deluded  my  poor  sister ;  and  the  slave  had  penetrated  his  mas 
ter's  secret.  I  turned  away  abruptly  from  the  negro,  lest  lie 
should  also  detect  the  evidence  of  the  weakness  extorted  by  his 
speech,  from  the  eyes  of  manhood. 


92  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"  Like  tho  lily 

That  onco  was  mistress  of  tho  field,  and  flourished, 
I'll  hang  my  head  and  perish." 

QUEEN  CATHERINE. 

T  SAW  little  of  Lucy  that  night.  She  met  us  at  evening 
prayers,  and  tears  were  in  her  eyes  as  she  arose  from  her  knees. 
Without  speaking,  she  kissed  her  father  for  good  night,  more 
affectionately  than  ever,  I  thought,  and  then  turned  to  me.  Her 
hand  was  extended  (we  had  seldom  met  or  parted  for  eighteen 
years  without  observing  this  little  act  of  kindness),  but  she  did 
not — nay,  could  not,  speak.  I  pressed  the  little  hand  fervently 
in  my  own,  and  relinquished  it  again,  in  the  same  eloquent 
silence.  She  was  seen  no  more  by  its  until  next  day. 

The  breakfast  had  ever  been  a  happy  meal  at  Clawbonny. 
My  father,  though  merely  a  shipmaster,  was  one  of  the  better 
class ;  and  he  had  imbibed  many  notions,  in  the  course  of  his 
different  voyages,  that  placed  him  much  in  advance  of  the  or 
dinary  habits  of  his  day  and  country.  Then  an  American  ship 
master  is  usually  superior  to  those  of  other  countries.  This 
arises  from  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  our  institutions,  as  well 
as  from  the  circumstance  that  the  navy  is  so  small.  Among 
other  improvements,  my  father  had  broken  in  upon  the  venera 
ble  American  custom  of  swallowing  a  meal  as  soon  as  out  of 
bed.  The  breakfast  at  Clawbonny,  from  my  earliest  infancy,  or 
as  long  as  I  can  remember,  had  been  eaten  regularly  at  nine 
o'clock,  -a  happy  medium  between  the  laziness  of  dissipation 
and  the  hurry  of  ill-formed  habits.  At  that  hour  the  whole 
family  used  to  meet,  still  fresh  from  a  night's  repose,  and  yet 
enlivened  and  gay  by  an  hour  or  two  of  exercise  in  the  open 


MILES      \VALL1KGFORD.  93 

air,  instead  of  coming  to  the  family  board  half  asleep,  with  a 
sort  of  drowsy  sulkiness,  as  if  the  meal  were  a  duty,  and  not  a 
pleasure.  We  ate  as  leisurely  as  keen  appetites  would  permit ; 
laughed,  chatted,  related  the  events  of  the  morning,  conversed 
of  our  plans  for  the  day,  and  indulged  our  several  tastes  and 
humors,  like  people  who  had  been  up  and  stirring,  and  not  like 
so  many  drowsy  drones  swallowing  our  food  for  form's  sake. 
The  American  breakfast  has  been  celebrated  by  several  modern 
writers,  and  it  deserves  to  be,  though  certainly  not  to  be  com 
pared  to  that  of  France.  Still,  it  might  be  far  better  than  it  is, 
did  our  people  understand  the  mood  in  which  it  ought  to  be  en 
joyed. 

While  on  this  subject,  the  reader  will  excuse  an  old  man's 
prolixity,  if  I  say  a  word  on  the  state  of  the  science  of  the  table 
in  general,  as  it  is  put  in  practice  in  this  great  republic.  A 
writer  of  this  country,  one  Mr.  Cooper,  has  somewhere  said  that 
the  Americans  are  the  grossest  feeders  in  the  civilized  world, 
and  warns  his  countrymen  to  remember  that  a  national  charac 
ter  may  be  formed  in  the  kitchen.  This  remark  is  commented 
on  by  Captain  Marryatt,  who  calls  it  both  unjust  and  ill-na 
tured.  As  for  the  ill-nature  I  shall  say  nothing,  unless  it  be  to 
remark  that  I  do  not  well  see  how  that  which  is  undeniably 
true  ought  to  be  thought  so  very  ill-natured.  That  it  is  true, 
every  American  who  has  seen  much  of  other  lands  must  know. 
Captain  Marryatt's  allegation  that  the  tables  are  good  in  the 
large  towns,  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  merits  of  this  question. 
The  larger  American  towns  are  among  the  best  eating  and 
drinking  portions  of  the  world.  But  what  are  they  as  com 
pared  to  the  whole  country  ?  What  are  the  public  tables,  or 
the  tables  of  the  refined,  as  compared  to  the  tables  of  the  mass, 
even  in  these  very  towns  ?  All  things  are  to  be  judged  of  by 
the  rules,  and  not  by  the  exceptions.  Because  a  small  portion 
of  the  American  population  understand  what  good  cookery  is, 
it  by  no  means  follows  that  all  do.  WTio  would  think  of  say 
ing  that  the  people  of  England  live  on  white  bait  and  venison, 
because  the  nobility  and  gentry  (the  aldermen  inclusive)  can 


94  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

enjoy  both,  in  the  seasons,  ad  libitum  ?  I  suspect  this  Mr. 
Cooper  knows  quite  as  well  what  lie  is  about,  when  writing 
of  America,  as  any  European.  If  pork  fried  in  grease,  and 
grease  pervading  half  the  other  dishes,  vegetables  cooked  with 
out  any  art,  and  meats  done  to  rags,  make  a  good  table,  then  is 
this  Mr.  Cooper  wrong,  and  Captain  Marryatt  right,  and  vice 
versa.  As  yet,  while  nature  has  done  so  much  in  America,  art 
has  done  but  little.  Much  compared  Avith  numbers  and  time, 
certainly,  but  little  as  compared  with  what  numbers  and  time 
have  done  elsewhere.  Nevertheless,  I  would  make  an  exception 
in  favor  of  America,  as  respects  the  table  of  one  country, 
though  not  so  much  in  connection  with  the  coarseness  of  the 
feeding  as  in  the  poverty  of  the  food.  I  consider  the  higher 
parts  of  Germany  to  be  the  portions  of  the  Christian  world 
where  eating  and  drinking  are  in  the  most  primitive  condi 
tion  ;  and  that  part  of  this  great  republic,  which  Mr.  Alison 
would  probably  call  the  state  of  New  England,  to  come  next. 
In  abundance  and  excellence  of  food  in  the  native  form,  Amer 
ica  is  particularly  favored ;  Baltimore  being  at  the  very  nucleus 
of  all  that  is  exquisite  in  the  great  business  of  mastication. 
Nevertheless,  the  substitution  of  cooks  from  the  interior  of  New 
England,  for  the  present  glistening  tenants  of  her  kitchens, 
would  turn  even  that  paradise  of  the  epicure  into  a  sort  of  ole 
aginous  waste.  Enough  of  cookery. 

Lucy  did  not  appear  at  prayers  next  morning  !  I  felt  her  ab 
sence  as  one  feels  the  certainty  of  some  dreadful  evil.  Break 
fast  was  announced  ;  still  Lucy  did  not  appear.  The  table  was 
smoking  and  hissing ;  and  Romeo  Clawbonny,  who  acted  as  the 
cvery-day  house-servant,  or  footman,  had  several  times  intimated 
that  it  might  be  well  to  commence  operations,  as  a  cold  brcai 
fast  was  very  cold  comfort. 

"  Miles,  my  dear  boy,"  observed  Mr.  Hardinge,  after  opening 
the  door  to  look  for  the  absentee  half  a  dozen  times,  "  we  will 
wait  no  longer.  My  daughter,  no  doubt,  intends  to  breakfast 
with  Grace,  to  keep  the  poor  dear  girl  company  ;  for  it  is  dull 
work  to  breakfast  by  one's  self.  You  and  I  miss  Lucy  sadly,  at 


MILES     AVALLINGFORD.  95 

this  very  moment,  though  we  have  each  other's  company  tc 
console  us." 

We  had  just  taken  our  seats,  Avh.cn  the  door  slowly  opened, 
and  Lucy  entered  the  room. 

"  Good  morning,  dearest  father,"  said  the  sweet  girl,  passing 
an  arm  round  Mr.  Hardinge's  neck,  Avith  more  than  her  usual 
tenderness  of  manner,  and  imprinting  a  long  kiss  on  Ms  bald 
head.  "  Good  morning,  Miles,"  stretching  toward  me  a  hand, 
but  averting  her  face,  as  if  afraid  it  might  reveal  too  mucTi  Avhen 
exposed  fully  to  my  anxious  and  inquiring  gaze.  "  Grace  passed 
a  pretty  quiet  night,  and  is,  I  think,  a  little  less  disturbed  this 
morning  than  she  Avas  yesterday." 

Neither  of  us  ansAvered  or  questioned  the  dear  nurse.  What 
a  breakfast  was  that,  compared  to  so  many  hundreds  in  Avhich 
I  had  shared  at  that  very  table,  and  in  that  same  room !  Three 
of  the  accustomed  faces  Avere  there,  it  is  true ;  all  the  appliances 
were  familiar,  some  dating  as  far  back  as  the  time  of  the  first 
Miles ;  Romeo,  noAV  a  gray-headed  and  Avrinkled  negro,  was  in 
his  usual  place  ;  but  Chloe,  Avho  Avas  accustomed  to  pass  often 
betAveen  her  young  mistress  and  a  certain  closet,  at  that  meal, 
which  never  seemed  to  have  all  we  Avanted  arranged  on  the  ta 
ble  at  first,  Avas  absent,  as  v/.as  that  precious  "  young  mistress" 
herself.  "  Gracious  Providence !"  I  mentally  ejaculated,  "  is  it 
thy  Avill  it  should  ever  be  thus  ?  Am  I  never  again  to  see  those 
dove-like  eyes  turned  on  me  in  sisterly  affection  from  the  head 
of  my  table,  as  I  have  'so  often  seen  them,  on  hundreds  and 
hundreds  of  occasions  ?"  Luey's  spirits  had  sometimes  caused 
her  to  laugh  merrily  ;  and  her  musical  voice  once  used  to  min 
gle  with  Rupert's  and  my  own  more  manly  aud  deeper  notes, 
in  something  like  audible  mirth ;  not  that  Lucy  was  ever  bois 
terous  or  loud ;  but,  in  early  girlhood,  she  had  been  gay  and 
animated,  to  a  degree  that  often  blended  Avith  the  noisier  clam 
or  of  us  boys.  With  Grace,  this  had  never  happened.  Shp  sel 
dom  spoke,  except  in  moments  Avhen  the  rest  were  still ;  and 
Her  laugh  Avas  rarely  audible,  though  so  often  heartfelt  and 
joyous.  It  may  seem  strange  to  those  who  have  never  suffered 


96  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

the  pang  of  feeling  that  such  a  customary  circle  was  broken  up 
forever ;  but,  that  morning,  the  first  in  which  I  keenly  felt  that 
ray  sister  was  lost  to  me,  I  actually  missed  her  graceful,  elo 
quent  silence ! 

"  Miles,"  said  Lucy,  as  she  rose  from  the  table,  tears  trem 
bling  on  her  eyelids  as  she  spoke,  "  half  an  hour  hence  come  to 
the  family  room.  Grace  wishes  to  see  you  there  this  morning, 
and  I  have  not  been  able  to  deny  her  request.  She  is  weak, 
but  thinks  the  visit  will  do  her  good.  Do  not  fail  to  be  punc 
tual^  as  waiting  might  distress  her.  Good  morning,  dearest 
papa ;  when  I  want  you,  I  will  send  for  you." 

Lucy  left  us  with  these  ominous  notices,  and  I  felt  the  ne 
cessity  of  going  on  the  lawn  for  air.  I  walked  my  half  hour  out, 
and  returned  to  the  house  in  time  to  be  punctual  to  the  appoint 
ment.  Chloe  met  me  at  the  door,  and  led  the  way  in  silence 
toward  the  family  room.  Her  hand  was  no  sooner  laid  on  the 
latch  than  Lucy  appeared,  beckoning  me  to  enter.  I  found 
Grace  reclining  on  that  small  settee,  or  causeuse,  on  Avhich  AVC 

O  '  f 

had  held  our  first  interview,  looking  pallid  and  uneasy,  but  still 
looking  lovely  and  as  ethereal  as  ever.  She  held  out  a  hand 
affectionately,  and  then  I  saw  her  glance  toward  Lucy,  as  if  ask 
ing  to  be  left  with  me  alone.  As  for  myself,  I  could  not  speak. 
Taking  my  old  place,  I  drew  my  sister's  head  on  my  bosom, 
and  sat  holding  it  in  silence  for  many  painful  minutes.  In  that 
position  I  could  conceal  the  tears  which  forced  themselves  from 
my  eyes,  it  exceeding  all  my  powers  to  repress  these  evidences 
of  human  grief.  As  I  took  my  place,  the  figure  of  Lucy  dis 
appeared,  and  the  door  closed. 

I  never  knew  how  long  a  time  Grace  and  I  continued  in  that 
tender  attitude.  I  was  not  in  a  state  of  mind  to  note  such  a 
fact,  and  have  since  striven  hard  to  forget  most  that  occurred  in 
that  solemn  interview.  After  a  lapse  of  so  many  years,  how 
ever,  I  find  memory  painfully  accurate  on  all  the  leading  cir 
cumstances,  though  it  was  impossible  to  recall  a  point  of  which 
I  took  no  heed  at  the  moment.  Such  things  only  as  made  an 
impression  is  it  in  my  power  to  relate. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  97 

When  Grace  gently,  and  I  might  add  faintly,  raised  herself 
from  my  bosom,  she  turned  on  me  eyes  that  were  filled  with  a 
kind  anxiety  on  my  account,  rather  than  her  own. 

"  Brother,"  she  said,  earnestly,  "  the  will  of  God  must  he  sub 
mitted  to ;  I  am  very,  very  ill — broken  in  pieces — I  grow  weak 
er  every  hour.  It  is  not  right  to  conceal  such  a  truth  from  our 
selves,  or  from  each  other." 

I  made  no  reply,  although  she  evidently  paused  to  give  me 
an  opportunity  to  speak.  I  could  not  have  uttered  a  syllable  to 
have  saved  my  life.  The  pause  was  impressive,  rather  than  long. 

"  I  have  sent  for  you,  dearest  Miles,"  my  sister  continued, 
"not  that  I  think  it  probable  I  shall  be  called  away  soon  or  sud 
denly.  God  will  spare  me  for  a  little  while,  I  humbly  trust,  in 
order  to  temper  the  blow  to  those  I  love ;  but  he  is  about  to 
call  me  to  him,  and  we  must  all  be  prepared  for  it ;  you,  and 
dear,  dear  Lucy,  and  my  beloved  guardian,  as  well  as  myself.  I 
have  not  sent  for  you  even  to  tell  you  this ;  for  Lucy  gives  mo 
reason  to  believe  you  expect  the  separation ;  but  I  wish  to 
speak  to  you  on  a  subject  that  is  very  near  my  heart,  while  I 
have  strength  and  fortitude  to  speak  on  it  at  all.  Promise  me, 
dearest,  to  be  calm,  and  to  listen  patiently." 

"  Your  slightest  wish  Avill  be  a  law  to  me,  beloved,  most  pre 
cious  sister ;  I  shall  listen  as  if  we  were  in  our  days  of  childish 
confidence  and  happiness — though  I  fear  those  days  are  never 
to  return !" 

"  Feel  not  thus,  Miles,  my  noble-hearted,  manly  brother. 
Heaven  will  not  desert  you,  unless  you  desert  your  God ;  it 
does  not  desert  me,  but  angels  beckon  mo  to  its  bliss  !  Were 
it  not  for  you  and  Lucy,  and  my  dear,  dear  guardian,  the  hour 
of  my  departure  would  be  a  moment  of  pure  felicity.  But  we 
will  not  talk  of  this  now.  You  must  prepare  yourself,  Miles,  to 
hear  me  patiently,  and  to  be  indulgent  to  my  last  wishes,  ever 
should  they  seem  unreasonable  to  your  mind  at  first." 

"  I  have  told  you,  Grace,  that  a  request  of  yours  will  be  a 
law  to  me ;  have  no  hesitation,  therefore  in  letting  me  know 
any,  or  all  your  wishes." 


93  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  Let  us,  then,  speak  of  worldly  things ;  for  the  last  time,  I 
trust,  my  brother.  Sincerely  do  I  hope  that  this  will  be  the 
last  occasion  on  which  I  shall  ever  be  called  to  allude  to  them. 
This  duty  discharged,  all  that  will  remain  to  me  on  earth  will 
be  the  love  I  bear  my  friends.  This  Heaven  itself  will  excuse, 
as  I  shall  strive  not  to  let  it  lessen  that  I  bear  my  God." 

Grace  paused,  and  I  sat  wondering  what  was  to  follow,  though 
touched  to  the  heart  by  her  beautiful  resignation  to  a  fate  that 
to  most  so  young  would  seem  hard  to  be  borne. 

"  Miles,  my  brother,"  she  continued,  looking  at  me  anxiously, 
"  we  have  not  spoken  much  of  your  success  in  your  last  voyage, 
though  I  have  understood  that  you  have  materially  increased 
your  means." 

"It  has  quite  equalled  my  expectations  ;  and,  rich  in  my  ship 
and  ready  money,  I  am  content,  to  say  nothing  of  Clawbonny. 
Do  what  you  will  with  your  own,  therefore,  my  sister;  not  a 
wish  of  mine  shall  ever  grudge  a  dollar ;  I  would  rather  not  be 
enriched  by  your  loss.  Make  your  bequests  freely,  and  I  shall 
look  on  each  and  all  of  them  as  so  many  memorials  of  your 
affectionate  heart  and  many  virtues." 

Grace's  cheeks  flushed,  and  I  could  see  that  she  was  extreme 
ly  gratified,  though  still  tremblingly  anxious. 

"  You  doubtless  remember  that  by  our  father's  will,  Miles,  my 
property  becomes  yours,  if  I  die  without  children  before  I  reach 
the  age  of  twenty-one ;  while  yours  would  have  been  mine  un 
der  the  same  circumstances.  As  I  am  barely  twenty,  it  is  out 
of  my  power  to  make  a  legal  will." 

"  It  is  in  your  power  to  make  one  that  shall  be  equally  bind 
ing,  Grace.  I  will  go  this  instant  for  pen,  ink,  and  paper ;  and, 
as  you  dictate,  will  I  write  a  will  that  shall  be  even  more  bind 
ing  than  one  that  might  come  within  the  rules  of  the  law." 

"  Nay,  brother,  that  is  unnecessary ;  all  I  wish  I  have  already 
said  in  a  letter  addressed  to  yourself;  and  which,  should  you 
now  approve  of  it,  will  be  found  among  my  papers  as  a  memo 
randum.  But  there  should  be  no  misapprehension  between  you 
and  me,  dearest  Miles.  I  do  not  wish  you  even  fully  to  consent 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  99 

to  my  wishes  now ;  take  time  to  consider,  and  let  your  judg 
ment  have  as  much  influence  on  your  decision  as  your  own  ex 
cellent  heart." 

"  I  am  as  ready  to  decide  at  this  moment  as  I  shall  be  a  year 
hence.  It  is  enough  for  me  that  you  wish  the  thing  done,  to 
have  it  done,  sister." 

"Bless  you,  bless  you,  brother,"  said  Grace,  affectionately 
pressing  my  hand  to  her  heart ;  "  not  so  much  that  you  consent 
to  do  as  I  wish,  as  for  the  spirit  and  manner  in  which  you  com 
ply.  Still,  as  I  ask  no  trifle,  it  is  proper  that  I  release  you  from 
all  pledges  here  given,  and  allow  you  time  for  reflection.  Then, 
it  is  also  proper  you  should  know  the  full  extent  of  what  you 
promise." 

"  It  is  enough  for  me  that  it  will  be  in  my  power  to  perform 
what  you  desire;  further  than  that  I  make  no  stipulation." 

I  could  see  that  Grace  was  profoundly  struck  with  this  proof 
of  my  attachment,  but  her  own  sense  of  right  was  too  just  and 
active  to  suffer  the  matter  to  rest  there. 

"  I  must  explain  further,"  she  added.  "  Mr.  Hardinge  has 
been  a  most  faithfcil  steward,  and  by  means  of  economy  during 
my  long  minority,  the  little  cost  that  has  attended  my  manner 
of  living,  and  some  fortunate  investments  that  have  been  made 
of  interest-money,  I  find  myself  a  good  deal  richer  than  I  had 
supposed.  In  relinquishing  my  property,  Miles,  you  will  relin 
quish  rather  more  than  two-and-twenty  thousand  dollars,  01 
quite  twelve  hundred  a  year.  There  ought  to  be  no  misappre 
hensions  on  this  subject  between  us,  least  of  all  at  such  a  mo 
ment." 

"  I  wish  it  Avere  more,  my  sister,  since  it  gives  you  pleasure 
to  bestow  it.  If  it  will  render  you  any  happier  to  perfect  any 
of  your  plans,  take  ten  thousand  of  my  own,  and  add  to  the 
sum  which  is  now  yours.  I  would  increase,  rather  than  lessen 
your  means  of  doing  good."  , 

"  Miles,  Miles,"  said  Grace,  dreadfully  agitated,  "  talk  not  thus 
— it  almost  shakes  my  purpose !  But  no,  listen  now  to  my 
wishes,  for  I  feel  this  will  be  the  last  time  I  shall  ever  dare  to 


100  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

speak  on  the  subject.  In  the  first  place,  I  wish  you  to  purchase 
some  appropriate  ornament,  of  the  value  of  five  hundred  dollars, 
and  present  it  to  Lucy  as  a  memorial  of  her  friend.  Give  also 
one  thousand  dollars  in  money  to  Mr.  Hardinge,  to  be  distribu 
ted  in  charity.  A  letter  to  him  on  the  subject,  and  one  to  Lucy, 
will  also  be  found  among  my  papers.  There  will  still  remain 
enough  to  make  suitable  presents  to  the  slaves,  and  leave  the 
sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  entire  and  untouched." 

"And  what  shall  I  do  with  these  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
sister  ?"  I  asked,  Grace  hesitating  to  proceed. 

"That  sum,  dearest  Miles,  I  wish  to  go  to  Rupert.  You 
know  that  he  is  totally  without  fortune,  with  the  habits  of  a 
man  of  estate.  The  little  I  can  leave  him  will  not  make  him 
rich,  but  it  may  be  the  means  of  making  him  happy  and  respect 
able.  I  trust  Lucy  will  add  to  it  when  she  comes  of  age,  and 
the  future  will  be  happier  for  them  all  than  the  past." 

My  sister  spoke  quick,  and  was  compelled  to  pause  for  breath. 
As  for  myself,  the  reader  can  better  imagine  than  I  can  describe 
my  sensations,  which  were  of  a  character  almost  to  overwhelm 
me.  The  circumstance  that  I  felt  precluded  from  making  any 
serious  objections,  added  to  the  intensity  of  my  suffering,  left 
me  in  a  state  of  grief,  regret,  indignation,  wonder,  pity  and  ten 
derness,  that  it  is  wholly  out  of  my  power  to  delineate.  Here, 
then,  was  the  tenderness  of  the  woman  enduring  to  the  last, 
caring  for  the  heartless  wretch  who  had  destroyed  the  very 
springs  of  life  in  her  physical  being,  while  it  crushed  the  moral 
like  a  worm  beneath  the  foot,  yet  bequeathing  Avith  her  dying 
breath,  as  it  might  be,  all  the  worldly  goods  in  her  possession, 
to  administer  to  his  selfishness  and  vanity ! 

"  I  know  you  must  think  this  strange,  brother,"  resumed 
Grace,  who  doubtless  saw  how  utterly  unable  I  was  to  reply ; 
"  but  I  shall  not  die  at  peace  with  myself  without  it.  Unless 
lie  possesses  some  marked  assurance  of  my  forgiveness,  my 
death  will  render  Rupert  miserable ;  with  such  a  marked  assur 
ance,  he  will  be  confident  of  possessing  my  pardon  and  my 
prayers.  Then,  both  he  and  Emily  are  penniless,  I  fear,  and 


MILES     V/ALLINGFORD.  101 

their  lives  may  be  rendered  blanks  for  the  want  of  the  little 
money  it  is  in  my  power  to  bestow.  At  the  proper  time,  Lucy, 
I  feel  confident,  will  add  her  part,  and  you,  who  remain  behind 
me,  can  all  look  on  my  grave,  and  bless  its  humble  tenant !" 

"  Angel !"  I  murmured — "  this  is  too  much  !  Can  you  sup 
pose  Rupert  will  accept  this  money  ?" 

Ill  as  I  thought  of  Rupert  Hardingc,  I  could  not  bring  my 
nind  to  believe  he  was  so  base  as  to  receive  money  coming 
from  such  a  source,  and  with  such  a  motive.  Grace,  however, 
viewed  the  matter  differently ;  not  that  she  attached  any  thing 
discreditable  to  Rupert's  compliance,  for  her  own  womanly  ten 
derness,  long  and  deeply  rooted  attachment,  made  it  appear  to 
/aer  eyes  more  as  an  act  of  compliance  with  her  own  last  behest, 
than  as  the  act  of  degrading  meanness  it  Avould  unquestionably 
appear  to  be,  to  all  the  rest  of  the  world. 

"How  can  he  refuse  this  to  me,  coming  to  him,  as  the  re 
quest  will,  from  my  grave?"  rejoined  the  lovely  enthusiast. 
"  lie  will  owe  it  to  me  ;  he  will  owe  it  to  our  former  affection 
— for  he  once  loved  me,  Miles ;  nay,  he  loved  me  even  more 
than  you  ever  did,  or  could,  dearest — much  as  I  know  you  love 
me." 

"  By  Heavens,  Grace,"  I  exclaimed,  unable  to  control  ruyself 
any  longer,  "  that  is  a  fearful  mistake.  Rupert  Hardinge  is  in 
capable  of  loving  any  thing  but  himself;  he  has  never  been 
worthy  of  occupying  the  most  idle  moment  of  a  heart  true  and 
faithful  as  yours." 

These  words  escaped  me  under  an  impulse  I  found  entirely 
impossible  to  control.  Scarcely  Avere  they  uttered,  ere  I  deep 
ly  regretted  the  indiscretion.  Grace  looked  at  me  imploringly, 
turned  as  pale  as  death,  and  trembled  all  over,  as  if  on  the  verge 
of  dissolution.  I  took  her  in  my  arms,  I  implored  her  pardon, 
I  promised  to  command  myself  in  future,  and  I  repeated  the 
most  solemn  assurances  of  complying  with  her  wishes  to  the 
very  letter.  I  am  not  certain  I  could  have  found  it  in  my  heart 
not  to  have  recalled  my  promise,  but  for  the  advantage  my  sis 
ter  obtained  over  me,  by  means  of  this  act  of  weakness.  There 


102  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

was  something  so  exceedingly  revolting  to  mo  in  the  whole 
affair,  that  even  Grace's  holy  weakness  failed  to  sanctify  the  act 
in  my  eyes  ;  at  least  so  far  as  Rupert  was  concerned.  I  owe  it 
to  myself  to  add  that  not  a  selfish  thought  mingled  with  my  re 
luctance,  which  proceeded  purely  from  the  distaste  I  felt  to  sec- 
ing  Lucy's  brother,  and  a  man  for  whom  I  had  once  entertained 
a  boyish  regard,  making  himself  so  thoroughly  an  object  of  con 
tempt.  As  I  entertained  serious  doubts  of  even  Rupert's  sink 
ing  so  low,  I  felt  the  necessity  of  speaking  to  my  sister  on  the 
subject  of  such  a  contingency. 

"  One  might  hesitate  about  accepting  your  money,  after  all, 
dearest  sister,"  I  said;  j" and  it  is  proper  you  give  me  directions 
what  I  am  to  do,  in  the  event  of  Rupert's  declining  the  gift." 

"  I  think  that  is  little  probable,  Miles,"  answered  Grace,  who 
lived  and  died  under  a  species  of  hallucination  on  the  subject 
of  her  early  lover's  real  character — "  Rupert  may  not  have  been 
able  to  command  his  affections,  but  he  cannot  cease  to  feel  a 
sincere  friendship  for  me ;  to  remember  our  ancient  confidence 
and  intimacy.  He  will  receive  the  bequest,  as  you  would  take 
one  from  dear  Lucy,"  added  my  sister,  a  painful-looking  smile 
illuminating  that  angelic  expression  of  countenance  to  which  I 
have  so  often  alluded ;  "  or,  as  that  of  a  sister.  You  would  not 
refuse  such  a  thing  to  Lucy's  dying  request,  and  why  should 
Rupert  to  mine  ?" 

Poor  Grace!  Little  did  she  see  the  immense  difference 
there  was  in  my  relation  to  Lucy  and  that  which  Rupert  bore 
to  her.  I  could  not  explain  this  difference,  however,  but  mere 
ly  assented  to  her  wishes,  renewing,  for  the  fourth  or  fifth  time, 
my  pledges  of  performing  with  fidelity  all  she  asked  at  my 
hands.  Grace  then  put  into  my  hands  an  unsealed  letter  ad 
dressed  to  Rupert,  which  she  desired  me  to  read  when  alone, 
and  which  I  was  to  have  delivered  with  the  legacy  or  donatiou 
of  money. 

"  Let  me  rest  once  more  on  your  bosom,  Miles,"  said  Grace, 
reclining  her  head  in  my  arms,  quite  exhausted  under  the  reac 
tion  of  the  excitement  she  had  felt  while  urging  her  request. 


MILKS      WALLINGFORD.  103 

"  I  feel  liappicr,  at  tills  moment,  than  I  have  been  for  a  long 
time;  yet,  my  increasing  weakness  admonishes  me  it  cannot 
last  long.  Miles,  darling,  you  must  remember  all  our  sainted 
mother  taught  you  in  childhood,  and  you  will  not  mourn  over 
my  loss.  Could  I  leave  you  united  to  one  who  understood  and 
appreciated  your  worth,  I  should  die  contented.  But  you  will 
be  lei't  alone,  poor  Miles  ;  for  a  time,  at  least,  you  will  mourn 
for  me." 

"  t'orever — long  as  life  lasts,  beloved  Grace,"  I  murmured, 
almost  in  her  ear. 

Exhaustion  kept  my  sister  quiet  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
though  I  felt  an  occasional  pressure  of  her  hands,  both  of  which 
held  one  of  mine ;  and  I  could  hear  words  asking  blessings  and 
consolation  for  me,  whispered,  from  time  to  time,  in  heartfelt 
petitions  to  Heaven.  As  she  gained  strength  by  repose,  my  sis 
ter  felt  the  desire  to  continue  the  discourse  revive.  I  begged 
her  not  to  incur  the  risk  of  further  fatigue,  but  she  answered, 
.  smiling  affectionately  in  my  face, 

"  Rest !  There  will  be  no  permanent  rest  for  me,  until  laid 
by  the  side  of  my  parents.  Miles,  do  your  thoughts  ever  recur 
to  that  picture  of  the  future  that  is  so  precious  to  the  believer, 
and  which  leads  us  to  hope,  if  not  absolutely  to  confide  in  it 
as  a  matter  of  faith,  that  we  may  recognize  each  other  in  the 
next  state  of  being,  and  that  in  a  communion  still  sweeter  than 
any  of  this  life,  since  it  will  be  a  communion  free  from  all  sin 
and  governed  by  holiness?" 

"  We  sailors  give  little  heed  to  these  matters,  Grace ;  but  I 
feel  that,  in  future,  the  idea  you  have  just  mentioned  will  be  full 
of  consolation  to  me." 

"  Remember,  my  best-beloved  brother,  it  is  only  the  blessed 
that  can  enjoy  such  a  recognition — to  the  accursed  it  must  add 
an  additional  weight  to  the  burden  of  their  woe." 

"  Felix  trembled !"  The  thought  that  even  this  chance  of 
again  meeting  my  sister,  and  of  communing  with  her  in  the 
form  in  which  I  had  ever  seen  and  loved  her  might  be  lost, 
came  in  aid  of  other  good  resolutions  that  the  state  of  the  family 


104  MILES      AVALLINUFOKD. 

had  quickened  in  my  lieart.  I  thought,  however,  it  might  be 
well  not  to  let  Grace  lead  the  conversation  to  such  subjects, 
after  all  that  had  just  passed,  repose  becoming  necessary  to  her 
again.  I  therefore  proposed  calling  Lucy,  in  order  that  she 
might  be  carried  to  her  own  room.  I  say  carried ;  for,  by  a 
remark  that  fell  from  Chloe,  I  had  ascertained  that  this  was  the 
mode  in  which  she  had  been  brought  to  the  place  of  meeting. 
Grace  acquiesced ;  but  while  we  waited  for  Chloc  to  answer 
the  bell,  she  continued  to  converse. 

"  I  have  not  exacted  of  you,  Miles,"  my  sister  continued, 
"  any  promise  to  keep  my  bequest  a  secret  from  the  world ; 
your  own  sense  of  delicacy  would  do  that ;  but  I  will  make  it 
a  condition  that  you  do  not  speak  of  it  to  either  Mr.  Ilar- 
dinge  or  Lucy.  They  may  possibly  raise  weak  objections,  par 
ticularly  the  last,  who  has,  and  ever  has  had,  some  exaggerated 
opinions  about  receiving  money.  Even  in  her  days  of  poverty, 
and  poor  as  she  was,  you  know,  notwithstanding  our  true  love 
for  each  other,  and  close  intimacy,  I  never  could  induce  Lucy 
to  receive  a  cent.  Nay,  so  scrupulous  has  she  been,  that  the 
little  presents  which  friends  constantly  give  and  receive,  she 
would  decline,  because  she  had  not  the  means  of  offering  them 
in  return." 

I  remembered  the  gold  the  dear  girl  had  forced  on  me,  when 
I  first  went  to  sea,  and  could  have  kneeled  at  her  feet  and  called 
her  "  blessed." 

"  And  this  did  not  make  you  love  and  respect  Lucy  the  less, 
my  sister  ?  But  do  not  answer ;  so  much  conversing  must  dis 
tress  you." 

"Not  at  all,  Miles.  I  speak  without  suffering,  nor  does  thu 
little  talking  I  do  enfeeble  me  in  the  least.  When  I  appear  ex 
hausted,  it  is  from  the  feelings  which  accompany  our  discourse. 
I  talk  much,  very  much,  with  dear  Lucy,  who  hears  rne  with 
more  patience  than  yourself,  brother !" 

I  knew  that  this  remark  applied  to  Grace's  wish  to  dwell  on 
the  unknown  future,  and  did  not  receive  it  as  a  reproach  in  any 
other  sense.  As  she  seemed  calm,  however,  T  was  willing  to 


MILES      AV  A  L  L  I  N  G  P  O  U  D .  105 

indulge  her  wish  to  converse  with  me,  so  long  as  she  dwelt  on 
subjects  that  did  not  agitate  her.  Speaking  of  her  hopes  of 
heaven  had  a  contrary  effect,  and  I  made  no  further  opposition. 

"  Lucy's  hesitation  to  be  under  the  obligations  you  mention 
did  not  lessen  her  in  your  esteem  ?"  I  repeated. 

"  You  know  it  could  not,  Miles.  Lucy  is  a  dear,  good  girl ; 
and  the  more  intimately  one  knows  her,  the  more  certain  is 
one  to  esteem  her.  I  have  every  reason  to  bless  and  pray  for 
Lucy ;  still,  I  desire  you  not  to  make  either  her  or  her  father 
acquainted  Avith  my  bequest." 

"  Rupert  would  hardly  conceal  such  a  thing  from  so  near  and 
dear  friends." 

"  Let  Rupert  judge  of  the  propriety  of  that  for  himself. 
Kiss  me,  brother ;  do  not  ask  to  see  me  again  to-day,  for  I 
have  much  to  arrange  with  Lucy ;  to-morrow  I  shall  expect  a 
long  visit.  God  bless  you,  my  own,  dear — my  only  brother, 
and  ever  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping  !" 

I  left  the  room  as  Chloe  entered ;  and,  in  threading  the  long 
passage  that  led  to  the  apartment  which  was  appropriated  to 
my  own  particular  purposes,  as  an  office,  cabinet,  or  study,  I 
met  Lucy  near  the  door  of  the  latter.  I  could  see  she  had  been 
weeping,  and  she  followed  me  into  the  room. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  her,  Miles  ?"  the  dear  girl  asked, 
uttering  the  words  in  a  tone  so  low  and  plaintive  as  to  say  all 
that  she  anticipated  herself. 

"  We  shall  lose  her,  Lucy  ;  yes,  'tis  God's  pleasure  to  call  her 
to  himself." 

Had  worlds  depended  on  the  effort,  I  could  not  have  got  out 
another  syllable.  The  feelings  which  had  been  so  long  pent  up 
in  Grace's  presence  broke  out,  and  I  am  not  ashamed  to  say 
that  I  wept  and  sobbed  like  an  infant. 

How  kind,  how  woman-like,  how  affectionate  did  Lucy  show 
herself  at  that  bitter  moment.  She  said  but  little,  though  I 
think  I  overheard  her  murmuring  "  poor  Miles !" — "  poor,  dear 
Miles !" — "  what  a  blow  it  must  be  to  a  brother !" — "  God  will 
temper  this  loss  to  him  !"  and  other  similar  expressions.  She 


106  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

toot  one  of  my  hands  and  pressed  it  warmly  between  both  hot 
own ;  held  it  there  for  two  or  three  minutes ;  hovered  round 
me,  as  the  mother  keeps  near  its  slumbering  infant  when  illness 
renders  rest  necessary ;  and  seemed  more  like  a  spirit  sympa 
thizing  with  my  grief  than  a  mere  observer  of  its  violence.  In 
reflecting  on  what  then  passed  months  afterward,  it  appeared  to 
me  that  Lucy  had  entirely  forgotten  herself,  her  own  causes 
of  sorrow,  her  own  feelings  as  respected  Grace,  in  the  single 
wish  to  solace  me.  But  this  was  ever  her  character ;  this  was 
her  very  nature ;  to  live  out  of  herself,  as  it  might  be,  and  in 
the  existences  of  those  whom  she  esteemed  or  loved.  During 
this  scene,  Lucy  lost  most  of  the  restraints  which  womanhood 
and  more  matured  habits  had  placed  on  her  deportment ;  and 
she  behaved  toward  me  with  the  innocent  familiarity  that  mark 
ed  our  intercourse  down  to  the  time  I  sailed  in  the  Crisis.  It 
is  true,  I  was  too  dreadfully  agitated  at  first  to  take  heed  of  all 
that  passed ;  but,  I  Avell  remember,  that,  before  leaving  me  in 
obedience  to  a  summons  from  Grace,  she  laid  her  head  affection 
ately  on  mine,  and  kissed  the  curls  with  which  nature  had  so 
profusely  covered  the  last.  I  thought,  at  the  time,  notwith 
standing,  that  the  salute  would  have  been  on  the  forehead,  or 
cheek,  three  years  before,  or  previously  to  her  acquaintance 
with  Drewett. 

I  was  a  long  time  in  regaining  entire  self-command ;  but, 
when  I  did,  I  opened  my  sister's  letter  to  Rupert,  agreeably  to 
her  request,  and  perused  it  thrice  without  a  pause,  even  to  re 
flect.  It  was  conceived  in  these  words : — 

"Mr  DEAREST  RUPERT — 

"God,  in  his  infinite  and  inscrutable  wisdom,  when  you  read 
this  letter,  will  have  seen  fit  to  call  me  to  himself.  Let  not  this 
seeming  loss,  in  any  manner,  afflict  you,  my  friend ;  for  I  feel 
the  humble  assurance  that  I  shall  reap  the  full  benefit  of  the 
Saviour's  great  sacrifice.  I  could  not  have  been  happy  in  this 
life,  Rupert ;  and  it  is  a  mercy  that  I  am  taken,  thus  early,  to  a 
better.  It  grieves  me  to  part  from  your  excellent  father,  from 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  107 

our  precious  and  rightfully  beloved  Lucy,  and  from  dear,  dear 
Miles.  This  is  the  last  tribute  I  pay  to  nature,  and  I  hope  it 
will  be  pardoned  for  its  character.  There  is  a  strong  hope 
within  me,  that  my  death  Avill  be  sanctified  to  the  benefit  of  my 
friends.  With  this  view,  and  this  view  only,  beloved  Rupert,  I 
wish  you  to  remember  it.  In  all  other  respects  let  it  be  for 
gotten.  You  have  found  it  impossible  to  command  your  affec 
tions,  and  worlds  would  not  have  tempted  me  to  become  your 
wife  without  possessing  all  your  heart.  I  pray  daily,  almost 
hourly" — tears  had  evidently  blotted  this  portion  of  the  letter — 
"for  you  and  Emily.  Live  together,  and  make  each  other 
happy.  She  is  a  sweet  girl ;  has  enjoyed  advantages  that  Claw- 
bonny  could  not  bestow,  and  which  will  contribute  to  your 
gratification.  In  order  that  you  may  sometimes  think  of  me" — 
poor  Grace  was  not  aware  of  this  contradiction  in  her  requests 
— "  Miles  will  send  you  a  legacy  that  I  leave  you.  Accept  it  as 
a  little  fortune  with  Emily.  I  wish  sincerely,  it  were  much 
larger ;  but  you  will  not  overlook  the  intention,  and  forget  the 
insufficiency  of  the  sum.  Small  as  it  is,  I  trust  it  will  enable 
you  to  marry  at  once,  and  Lucy's  heart  may  be  confided  in  for 
the  rest. 

"  Farewell,  Rupert — I  do  not  say,  farewell  Emily ;  for  I  think 
this  letter,  as  well  as  its  object,  had  better  remain  a  secret  be 
tween  you  and  me,  and  my  brother — but  I  wish  your  future  wife 
all  earthly  happiness,  and  an  end  as  full  of  hope,  as  that  which 
attends  the  death-bed  of  your  affectionate 

"  GRACE  WALLINGFORD." 

Oh !  woman,  woman,  what  are  ye  not,  when  duly  protected 
and  left  to  the  almost  divine  impulses  of  your  generous  natures ! 
What  may  ye  not  become,  when  rendered  mercenary  and  en 
vious  by  too  close  a  contact  with  those  worldly  interests  which 
are  never  admitted  to  an  ascendency  without  destroying  all  your 
moral  beauty ! 


108  MILES      W  ALLINGl'O  Kl». 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"  And  the  beautiful,  whose  record 
Is  the  verse  that  cannot  die, 
They  too  arc  gone,  with  their  glorious  bloom, 
From  the  love  of  human  eye." 

MRS.  HEMANS. 

I  CANNOT  dwell  minutely  on  the  events  of  the  week  that  suc 
ceeded.  Grace  sunk  daily,  hourly ;  and  the  medical  advice  that 
Avas  obtained,  more  as  a  duty  than  with  any  hope  of  its  benefit 
ing  the  patient,  failed  of  assisting  her.  Mr.  Hardinge  saw  the 
invalid  often,  and  I  was  admitted  to  her  room  each  day,  where 
she  would  lie  reclining  on  my  bosom  for  hours  at  a  time,  seem 
ingly  fond  of  this  innocent  indulgence  of  her  affections,  on  the 
eve  of  her  final  departure.  As  it  was  out  of  the  question  that 
my  sister  should  again  visit  the  family  room,  the  causeuse  was 
brought  into  her  chamber,  where  it  was  made  to  perform  the 
office  to  which  it  had  been  several  times  devoted  in  its  proper 
apartment  since  my  return  from  sea.  That  venerable  chair  still 
exists,  and  I  often  pass  thoughtful  hours  in  it  in  my  old  age, 
musing  on  the  past,  and  recalling  the  different  scenes  and  con 
versations  of  which  it  could  tell,  did  it  possess  consciousness 
and  the  faculty  of  speech. 

Mr.  Hardinge  officiated  in  his  own  church,  agreeably  to  his 
intention,  on  the  succeeding  Sunday.  Lucy  remained  with  her 
friend,  and  I  make  no  doubt  their  spirits  devoutly  communed 
with  ours  the  while,  for  I  mastered  sufficient  fortitude  to  be 
present  at  St.  Michael's.  I  could  observe  an  earnest  sympathy 
in  every  member  of  the  little  congregation,  and  tears  fell  from 
nearly  every  eye  when  the  prayer  for  the  sick  was  read.  Mr. 
Hardinge  remained  at  the  rectory  for  the  further  duties  of  the 


MILES     AVAL  LIN  GFO  RD.  109 

day,  but  I  rode  homo  immediately  after  morning  service,  too 
uneasy  to  remain  absent  from  the  house  longer  than  was  neces 
sary,  at  such  a  moment.  As  my  horse  trotted  slowly  homeward, 
he  overtook  Neb,  who  was  walking  toward  Clawbonny  with  an 
air  so  different  from  his  customary  manner,  I  could  not  help  re 
marking  it.  Neb  was  a  muscular,  active  black,  and  usually 
walked  as  if  his  legs  were  all  springs ;  but  he  moved  along  now 
so  heavily,  that  I  could  not  but  see  some  weight  upon  the  spirits 
had  produced  this  influence  on  the  body.  The  change  was,  nat 
urally  enough,  attributed  to  the  state  of  affairs  with  Chloe ;  and  I 
felt  disposed  to  say  a  word  to  my  faithful  slave,  who  had  been  un 
avoidably  overlooked  in  the  pressure  of  sorrow  that  had  weighed 
me  down  for  the  last  ten  days.  I  spoke  to  the  poor  fellow  as 
cheerfully  as  I  could,  as  I  came  up,  and  endeavored  to  touch  on 
such  subjects  as  I  thought  might  interest  without  troubling  him. 

"This  is  a  famous  windfall  that  has  crossed  Mr.  Marble's 
track,  Neb,"  I  said,  pulling  up  in  order  to  go  a  short  distance 
at  an  even  pace  with  my  brother  tar.  "  As  nice  an  old  woman 
for  a  mother,  as  pretty  a  little  girl  for  a  niece,  and  as  snug  a 
haven  to  moor  in  at  the  end  of  the  voyage,  as  any  old  worn-out 
sea-dog  could  or  ought  to  wish." 

"Yes,  sir,  Masser  Mile,"  Neb  answered,  as  I  fancied,  in  the 
manner  of  one  who  was  thinking  of  something  different  from 
what  he  said ;  "  yes,  sir,  Mr.  Marble  a  reg'lar  sea-dog." 

"And  as  such  not  the  less  entitled  to  have  a  good  old  mother, 
a  pretty  niece,  and  a  snug  home." 

"  No,  sir ;  none  de  wuss  for  bin'  sea-dog,  all  must  allow. 
Ncbberdeless,  Masser  Mile,  I  sometime  wish  you  and  I  nebber 
hab  see  salt  water." 

"  That  is  almost  as  much  as  wishing  we  never  looked  down 
the  Hudson  from  the  hills  and  banks  of  Clawbonny,  boy ;  the 
river  itself  being  salt  not  far  below  us.  You  are  thinking  of 
Chloe,  and  fancying  that  had  you  staid  at  home  your  chance 
of  getting  into  her  good  graces  Avould  have  been  better." 

"  No  Masser  Mile ;  no  sir.  Nobody  at  Clawbonny  t'ink  just 
now,  of  any  t'ing  but  deat'." 


110  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

I  started  in  surprise.  Mr.  Hardinge  kept  every  thing  like 
exaggeration  and  those  physical  excitements  which  it  is  so  much 
the  habit  of  certain  sects  to  mistake  for  religious  impulses,  even 
from  the  negroes  of  the  Clawbonny  property.  Neb's  speech 
sounded  more  like  an  innovation  of  this  nature  than  I  had  ever 
heard  among  my  people ;  and  I  looked  hard  at  the  fellow  for  an 
instant  before  I  answered. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  understand  you,  Neb,"  was  iny  reply,  after  a 
meaning  pause.  "  It  is  a  relief  to  me  to  find  that  my  people 
retain  all  their  affections  for  the  children  of  their  old  master 
and  mistress." 

"We  hard-hearted,  indeed,  sir,  if  we  don't.  Ah!  Masscr 
Mile,  you  and  I  see  many  dreadful  t'ing  togeder,  but  we  nebber 
sec  any  t'ing  like  dis  !'' 

Neb's  dark  cheek  was  glistening  with  tears  as  he  spoke,  and  I 
spurred  my  horse  lest  my  own  manhood  might  give  way  there  in 
the  road,  and  in  the  presence  of  those  who  were  fast  approach 
ing.  Why  Neb  had  expressed  sorrow  for  having  ever  gone 
to  sea,  I  could  not  account  for  in  any  other  manner  than  by  sup 
posing  that  he  imagined  Grace  was,  in  some  manner,  a  sufferer 
by  my  absence  from  home. 

When  I  reached  the  house,  not  a  soul  was  visible.  The  men 
had  all  gone  to  church,  and  were  to  be  seen  in  the  distance, 
coming  along  the  road,  singly,  and  in  a  melancholy  manner,  not 
a  sign  of  the  customary,  thoughtless  merriment  of  a  negro  es 
caping  a  single  individual  among  them ;  but  it  was  usual  for 
some  of  the  black  Venuses  to  be  seen  sunning  themselves  at 
that  season,  exhibiting  their  summer  finery  to  each  other  and 
their  admirers.  Not  one  was  now  visible.  All  the  front  of  the 
house,  the  lawn,  the  kitchens,  of  which  there  were  no  less  than 
three,  and  the  kitcheft  yards ;  in  short,  every  familiar  haunt  of 
the  dwelling  was  deserted  and  empty.  This  boded  evil ;  and, 
throwing  the  bridle  over  a  post,  I  walked  hurriedly  toward  the 
part  of  the  building,  or  buildings,  would  be  a  better  word,  in 
habited  by  Grace. 

As  I  entered  the  passage  which  communicated  with  my  sis- 


MILES      W  ALLIN  G  F  O  RD.  Ill 

tor's  own  room,  the  departure  from  ordinary  appearances  was 
explained.  Six  or  seven  of  the  negresses  were  .kneeling  near 
the  door,  and  I  could  hear  the  low,  solemn,  earnest  voice  of 
Lucy,  reading  some  of  the  collects  and  other  prayers  suited  to 
the  sick-chamber  and  to  the  wants  of  a  parting  soul.  Lucy's 
voice  was  music  itself,  but  never  before  had  it  sounded  so  plain 
tively  sweet.  The  lowest  intonation  was  distinctly  audible,  as 
if  the  dear,  devout  creature  felt  that  the  Being  she  addressed 
was  not  to  be  approached  in  any  other  manner,  while  the  trem 
bling  earnestness  of  the  tones  betrayed  the  depth  of  feeling  with 
which  each  syllable  escaped  from  the  heart.  Talk  of  liturgies 
impairing  the  fervor  of  prayer !  This  may  be  the  fact  with 
those  who  are  immersed  in  themselves  while  communing  with 
God,  and  cannot  consent  even  to  pray  Avithout  placing  their 
own  thoughts  and  language,  however  ill-digested  and  crude,  up 
permost  in  the  business  of  the  moment.  Do  not  such  persons 
know  that,  as  respects  united  worship,  their  own  prayers  are, 
to  all  intents  and  purposes,  a  formulary  to  their  listeners,  with 
the  disadvantage  of  being  received  without  preparation  or  direc 
tion  to  the  mind  ? — nay,  too  often  substituting  a  critical  and 
prurient  curiosity  for  humble  and  intelligent  prayer  ?  In  these 
later  times,  when  Christianity  is  reassuming  the  character  of  the 
quarrels  of  sects,  and,  as  an  old  man  who  has  lived,  and  hopes 
to  die,  in  communion  with  the  Anglo-American  church,  I  do  not 
wish  to  exculpate  my  own  particular  branch  of  the  Catholic 
body  from  blame  ;  but,  in  these  later  times,  when  Christianity  is 
returning  to  its  truculency,  forgetful  of  the  chiefest  of  virtues, 
charity,  I  have  often  recalled  the  scene  of  that  solemn  noontide, 
and  asked  myself  the  question,  "  if  any  man  could  have  heard 
Lucy,  as  I  did,  on  that  occasion,  concluding  with  the  petition 
which  Christ  himself  gave  to  his  disciples  as  a  comprehensive 
rule,  if  not  absolutely  as  a  formulary,  and  imagine  the  heart 
could  not  fully  accompany  words  that  had  been  previously  pre 
scribed  ?" 

No  sooner  had  Lucy's  solemn  tones  ceased  than  I  passed 
through  the  crowd  of  weeping  and  still  kneeling  blacks,  and  en 


11-2  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

tercd  my  sister's  room.  Grace  was  reclining  in  an  easy  cliair ; 
her  eyes  closed,  her  hands  clasped  together,  but  lying  on  her 
knees,  and  her  whole  attitude  and  air  proclaiming  a  momentary, 
but  total  abstraction  of  the  spirit.  I  do  not  think  she  heard  my 
footstep  at  all,  and  I  stood  at  her  side  an  instant,  uncertain 
Avhether  to  let  her  know  of  my  presence,  or  not.  At  this  instant 
I  caught  the  eye  of  Lucy,  who  seemed  intent  on  the  wish  to 
speak  to  me.  Grace  had  three  or  four  small  rooms  that  com 
municated  with  each  other  in  her  part  of  the  dwelling ;  and  into 
one  of  these,  which  served  as  a  sort  of  boudoir,  though  the  name 
was  then  unknown  in  America,  I  followed  the  dear  girl,  whose 
speaking,  but  sad  look  had  bidden  me  to  do  so. 

"  Is  my  father  near  at  hand  ?"  Lucy  asked,  with  an  interest 
I  did  not  understand,  since  she  must  have  known  he  intended 
to  remain  at  his  own  residence,  in  readiness  for  the  afternoon 
service. 

"  He  is  not.    You  forget  he  has  to  attend  to  evening  prayers." 

"  I  have  sent  for  him,  Miles,"  taking  one  of  my  hands  in  both 
her  own,  with  the  tenderness  a  mother  would  manifest  to  a 
very  dear  child ;  "  dear  Miles,  you  must  summon  all  your  forti 
tude." 

"  Is  my  sister  worse  ?"  I  demanded,  huskily,  for,  prepared  as 
I  was  for  the  result,  I  was  not  expecting  it  by  any  means  so 
soon. 

"  I  cannot  call  it  worse,  Miles,  to  be  about  to  be  called  away 
to  God  in  such  a  frame  of  mind.  But  it  is  proper  I  should 
tell  you  all.  Rather  less  than  an  hour  since,  Grace  told  me  that 
the  hour  was  at  hand.  She  has  the  knowledge  of  her  approach 
ing  end,  though  she  would  not  let  me  send  for  you.  She  said 
you  would  have  ample  time  to  witness  it  all.  For  my  father, 
however,  I  have  sent,  and  he  must  soon  be  here." 

"  Almighty  Providence  !  Lucy,  do  you  really  think  we  shall 
lose  Grace  so  soon  ?" 

"  As  it  is  the  will  of  God  to  take  her  from  us,  Miles,  I  can 
scarce  repine  that  her  end  should  be  so  easy,  and,  in  all  respects, 
so  tranquil." 


MILES      WALLING  FORD.  113 

So  long  as  memory  is  granted  to  me,  will  the  picture  that 
Lucy  presented  at  that  moment  remain  vividly  impressed  on  my 
mind.  She  loved  Grace  as  a  most  dear  sister ;  loved  her  as  an 
affectionate,  generous-minded,  devoted  woman  alone  can  love ; 
and  3~et,  so  keenly  was  she  alive  to  the  nature  of  the  communi 
cation  it  was  her  duty  to  make,  that  concern  for  me  alone  reign 
ed  in  her  saddened  and  anxious  eye.  Her  mind  had  schooled 
itself  to  bear  its  own  grief,  and  meek,  believing,  and  disposed  to 
foresee  all  that  her  profound  faith  taught  her  to  hope,  I  do  be-, 
lieve  she  considered  my  sister  a  subject  of  envy  rather  than  of 
regret,  though  her  solicitude  on  my  account  was  so  absorbing. 
This  generous  self-denial  touched  my  feelings  in  more  ways  than 
one,  enabling  rne  to  command  myself  to  a  degree  that  might 
otherwise  have  been  out  of  my  power,  during  the  few  succeed 
ing  hours.  I  felt  ashamed  to  manifest  all  I  endured  in  the  pres 
ence  of  so  much  meek  but  pious  fortitude,  and  that  exhibited 
by  one  whose  heart  I  so  well  knew  to  be  the  very  seat  of  the 
best  human  affections.  The  sad  smile  that  momentarily  illumi 
nated  Lucy's  countenance,  as  she  gazed  anxiously  in  my  face 
when  speaking,  was  full  of  submissive  hope  and  Christian  faith. 

"  God's  will  be  done,"  I  rather  whispered  than  uttered  aloud. 
"  Heaven  is  a  place  more  suited  to  such  a  spirit  than  the  abodes 
of  men." 

Lucy  pressed  my  hand,  and  appeared  relieved  from  a  load  of 
intense  anxiety  by  this  seeming  fortitude.  She  bade  me  remain 
where  I  was,  until  she  had  herself  apprised  Grace  of  my  return 
from  church.  I  could  see  through  the  open  door  that  the  ne- 
[rrcsscs  had  been  directed  to  retire,  and  presently  I  heard  the 
footstep  of  Mr.  Ilardinge  approaching  the  room  adjoining  that 
in  which  I  then  was,  and  which  answered  the  purpose  of  a  sort 
of  antechamber  for  those  who  came  to  the  sick-room  from  the 
more  public  side  of  the  house.  I  met  my  excellent  old  guardian 
in  that  apartment,  and  Lucy  was  at  my  side  at  the  next  instant. 
One  word  from  the  last  sufficed  to  keep  us  in  this  room  while 
she  returned  to  that  of  Grace. 

"  God  have  mercy  on  us,  my  dear  boy,"  the  divine  ejaculated, 


114  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

as  much  in  prayer  as  in  grief;  "  and  I  say  on  ws,  as  well  as  on 
you,  for  Grace  has  ever  been  dear  to  me  as  a  child  of  niy  own. 
I  knew  the  blow  must  come,  and  have  prayed  the  Lord  to  pre 
pare  us  all  for  it,  and  to  sanctify  it  to  us,  old  and  young,  but 
notwithstanding,  death  has  come  '  literally'  when  no  man  know- 
eth.  I  must  have  materials  for  writing,  Miles,  and  you  will 
choose  an  express  for  me  out  of  your  people ;  let  the  man  bo 
ready  to  mount  in  half  an  hour,  for  I  shall  not  require  half  that 
.time  to  prepare  my  letter." 

"  Medical  advice  is  useless,  I  am  afraid,  dear  sir,"  I  answered. 
"We  have  Post's  directions,  and  very  respectable  attendance 
from  our  own  family  physician,  Dr.  Wurtz,  who  gave  me  to 
understand  several  days  since  that  he  saw  no  other  means  of 
averting  the  evil  we  dread  than  those  already  adopted.  Still,  sir,  I 
shall  be  easier  if  we  can  persuade  Dr.  Bard  to  cross  the  river,  and 
Lave  already  thought  of  sending  Neb  once  more  on  that  errand." 

"  Do  so,"  returned  Mr.  Uardinge,  drawing  toward  him  a  little 
table  on  which  Dr.  Wurtz  had  written  a  few  prescriptions,  that 
were  used  more  for  form,  I  believe,  than  any  expectation  of  the 
good  they  could  do,  and  beginning  to  write  even  while  talking ; 
"  Do  so,"  he  added,  "  and  Neb  can  put  this  letter  in  the  post 
office  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river,  which  will  be  the  quick 
est  mode  of  causing  it  to  reach  Rupert" — 

"  Rupert !"  I  exclaimed,  on  a  key  that  I  instantly  regretted. 

"  Certainly ;  AVC  can  do  no  less  than  send  for  Rupert,  Miles. 
lie  has  ever  been  like  a  brother  to  Grace,  and  the  poor  fellow 
would  feel  the  neglect  keenly,  did  we  overlook  him  on  an  occa 
sion  like  this.  You  seem  astonished  at  my  thinking  of  sum 
moning  him  to  Clawbonny." 

"  Rupert  is  at  the  Springs,  sir,  happy  in  the  society  of  Miss 
Merton ;  would  it  not  be  better  to  leave  him  where  he  is  ?" 

"  What  would  you  think,  Miles,  were  Lucy  on  her  death-bed, 
and  we  should  fail  to  let  you  know  it  ?" 

I  gazed  so  wildly  at  the  good  old  man,  I  believe,  that  even 
his  simplicity  could  not  avoid  seeing  the  immense  difference  be 
tween  the  real  and  the  supposititious  case. 


MILES     WALLINGFOUD.  115 

'  Very  true,  poor  Miles,  very  true,"  Mr.  Hardinge  added  in 
an  apologetic  manner ;  "  I  see  the  weakness  of  my  comparison, 
though  I  was  beginning  to  hope  you  Avcre  already  regarding 
Lucy  once  more  with  the  eyes  of  a  brother.  But  Rupert  must 
not  be  forgotten  cither,  and  here  is  my  letter  already  written." 

"  It  will  be  too  late,  sir,"  I  got  out,  hoarsely ;  "  my  sister 
cannot  survive  the  day." 

I  perceived  that  Mr.  Hardinge  was  not  prepared  for  this ;  his 
cheek  grew  pale,  and  his  hand  trembled  as  he  sealed  the  epistle. 
Still  he  sent  it,  as  I  afterward  discovered. 

"  God's  will  be  done !"  the  excellent  divine  murmured.  "  If 
such  should  really  be  his  holy  will,  we  ought  not  to  mourn  that 
another  humble  Christian  spirit  is  called  away  to  the  presence 
of  its  great  Creator !  Rupert  can,  at  least,  attend  to*  do  honor 
to  all  that  we  can  honor  of  the  saint  we  lose." 

There  was  no  resisting  or  contending  with  so  much  simplicity 
and  goodness  of  heart ;  and,  had  it  been  in  my  power,  a  sum 
mons  to  the  room  of  Grace  called  all  my  thoughts  to  her.  My 
sister's  eyes  were  now  open.  'I  shuddered,  felt  a  sinking  of  the 
heart  like  that  produced  by  despair,  as  I  caught  their  unearthly 
or  rather  their  supernatural  expression.  It  was  not  that  any 
thing  Avhich  indicated  death  in  its  more  shocking  aspects  met 
my  look,  but  simply  that  I  could  trace  the  illumination  of  a 
spirit  that  already  felt  itself  on  the  eve  of  a  new  state  of  being, 
and  one  that  must  at  least  separate  all  that  remained  behind 
from  any  further  communication  with  itself.  I  am  not  certain 
that  I  felt  no  pang  at  the  thought  my  sister  could  be  entirely 
happy  without  any  participation  on  my  part  in  her  bliss.  Wo. 
are  all  so  selfish  that  it  is  hard  to  say  how  far  even  our  most 
innocent  longings  are  free  from  the  taint  of  this  feature  of  our 
nature. 

But  Grace  herself  could  not  entirely  shake  off  the  ties  of 
kindred  and  human  love  so  long  as  her  spirit  continued  in  its 
earthly  tenement.  So  far  from  this,  every  glance  she  cast  on 
one  or  all  of  us  denoted  the  fathomless  tenderness  of  her  nature, 
and  was  filled  with  its  undying  affection.  She  was  weak,  fright- 


116  MILKS      W  A  L  L  I  K  G  F  O  11  D . 

fully  so,  1  fancied,  for  death  appeared  to  hasten  in  order  to  re 
lease  her  as  swiftly  and  easily  as  possible,  yet  did  her  interest  in 
me  and  in  Lucy  sustain  her  sufficiently  to  enable  her  to  impart 
much  that  she  wished  to  say.  In  obedience  to  a  sign  from  her, 
I  knelt  at  her  side,  and  received  her  head  on  my  bosom  as  near 
as  possible  in  that  attitude  in  which  we  had  already  passed  hours 
since  her  illness.  Mr.  Hardinge  hovered  over  us  like  a  minister 
ing  spirit,  uttering  in  a  suppressed  and  yet  distinct  voice  some  of 
the  sublimest  of  those  passages  from  scripture  that  arc  the  most 
replete  with  consolation  to  the  parting  spirit.  As  for  Lucy,  to 
me  she  seemed  to  be  precisely  in  that  spot  where  she  was  most 
wanted,  and  often  did  Grace's  eyes  turn  toward  her  with  gloam 
ings  of  gratitude  and  love. 

"  The  Bbur  is  near,  brother,"  Grace  whispered,  as  she  lay  on 
my  bosom,  "Remember,  I  die  asking  forgiveness  as  much 
for  those  who  may  have  done  me  wrong,  as  for  myself.  Forget 
nothing  that  you  have  promised  me ;  do  nothing  to  cause  Lucy 
and  her  father  sorrow." 

"  I  understand  you,  sister,"  was  my  low  answer.  "  Depend 
on  all  I  have  said — all  you  can  wish" 

A  gentle  pressure  of  the  hand  was  the  token  of  contentment 
with  which  this  assurance  was  received. 

From  that  moment  it  seemed  to  me  that  Grace  was  less  than 
usual  attached  to  the  things  of  the  -world.  Nevertheless,  her 
interest  in  those  she  loved,  and  who  loved  her,  continued  to  the 
last. 

"  Let  all  the  slaves  that  wish  to  see  me,  enter,"  Grace  said, 
rousing  herself  to  perform  a  trying  but  necessary  duty.  "  I 
never  can  repay  them  for  all  they  have  done  for  me ;  but  I  trust 
them  to  you,  Miles,  Avith  confidence." 

Lucy  glided  from  the  room,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  long 
train  of  dark  faces  was  seen  approaching  the  door.  The  grief 
of  these  untutored  beings,  like  their  mirth,  is  usually  loud  and 
vociferous ;  but  Lucy,  dear,  considerate,  energetic  Lucy — ener 
getic  even  in  the  midst  of  a  sorrow  that  nearly  crashed  her  to 
the  earth — had  foreseen  all  this,  and  the  blacks  were  admitted 


MILES     WALLINGFOUD.  117 

only  on  the  condition  of  the  r  preserving  a  command  over  them 
selves  in  the  interview. 

Grace  spoke  to  every  one  of  the  females,  taking  leave  of  each 
calmly  and  with  some  useful  and  impressive  admonition,  while 
all  the  older  men  were  also  noticed  personally. 

"  Go,  and  rejoice  that  I  am  so  soon  released  from  the  cares 
of  this  world,"  she  said,  when  the  sad  ceremony  was  over. 
"  Pray  for  me,  and  for  yourselves.  My  brother  knows  my 
wishes  in  your  behalf,  and  will  see  them  executed.  God  bless 
you,  my  friends,  and  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping." 

So  great  was  the  ascendency  Lucy  had  obtained  ove*  these 
poor  simple  creatures  during  the  short  time  they  had  been  under 
her  mild  but  consistent  rule,  that  each  and  all  left  the  room  as 
quiet  as  children,  awe-struck  by  the  solemnity  of  the  scene. 
Still,  the  oldest  and  most  Avrinkled  of  their  cheeks  were  wet 
with  tears,  and  it  was  only  by  the  most  extraordinary  efforts 
that  they  were  enabled  to  repress  the  customary  outbreaking^ 
of  sorrow.  I  had  gone  to  a  window  to  conceal  my  own  feelings 
after  this  leave-taking,  when  a  rustling  in  the  bushes  beneath  it 
caught  my  ear.  Looking  out,  there  lay  Neb,  flat  on  Ms  face, 
his  Herculean  frame  extended  at  full  length,  his  hands  actually 
griping  the  earth  under  the  mental  agony  he  endured,  and  yet 
the  faithful  fellow  would  not  even  utter  a  groan,  lest  it  might 
reach  his  young  mistress's  ears,  and  disquiet  her  last  moments. 
I  afterward  ascertained  he  had  taken  that  post  in  order  that  he 
might  learn  from  time  to  time,  by  means  of  signs  from  Chloe,  how 
things  proceeded  in  the  chamber  above.  Lucy  soon  recalled  mo 
to  my  old  post,  Grace  having  expressed  a  wish  to  that  effect. 

"  It  will  be  but  an  hour,  and  we  shall  all  be  together  again," 
Grace  said,  startling  us  all  by  the  clearness  and  distinctness  of 
her  enunciation.  "  The  near  approach  of  death  places  us  on  a 
height  whence  we  can  see  the  entire  world  and  its  vanities  ai  a 
single  view." 

I  pressed  the  dying  girl  closer  to  my  heart,  a  species  of  in 
voluntary  declaration  of  the  difficulty  I  experienced  in  regarding 
her  loss  with  the  religious  philosophy  she  was  inculcating. 


/18  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"Mourn  not  for  me,  Miles" — she  continued — "yet  I  know 
you  will  mourn.  But  God  will  temper  the  blow,  and  in  his 
mercy  may  cause  it  to  profit  you  forever." 

I  did  not,  could  not  answer.  I  saw  Grace  endeavoring  to  got 
a  look  at  my  countenance,  as  if  to  observe  the  effect  of  the  scene. 
By  my  assistance  she  was  so  placed  as  to  obtain  her  wish.  The 
sight,  I  believe,  aroused  feelings  that  had  begun  to  yield  to  the 
influence  of  the  last  great  change;  for,  when  my  sister  spoke 
next,  it  was  with  a  tenderness  of  accent  that  proved  how  hard 
it  is  for  those  who  are  deeply  affectionate  to  lose  their  instincts. 

"  Poor  Miles !  I  almost  wish  we  could  go  together !  You  have 
been  a  dear,  good  brother  to  me."  (What  a  sweet  consolation 
I  afterward  found  in  these  words.)  "  It  grieves  me  to  leave 
you  so  nearly  alone  in  the  world.  But  you  will  have  Mr.  Har- 
dinge,  and  our  Lucy" — 

The  pause,  and  the  look  that  succeeded,  caused  a  slight 
tremor  to  pass  over  my  frame.  Grace's  eyes  turned  anxiously 
from  me  to  the  form  of  the  kneeling  and  weeping  Lucy.  I 
fancied  that  she  was  about  to  express  a  wish,  or  some  regret,  in 
connection  with  us  two,  that  even  at  such  a  moment  I  could  not 
have  heard  without  betraying  the  concern  it  would  give  me. 
She  did  not  speak,  however,  though  her  look  was  too  eloquent 
to  be  mistaken.  I  ascribed  the  forbearance  to  the  conviction 
that  it  would  be  too  late,  Lucy's  affections  belonging  to  Andrew 
Drewett.  At  that  instant  I  had  a  bitter  remembrance  of  Neb's 
words  of  "  I  sometime  wish,  Masser  Mile,  you  and  I  nebber  had 
see  salt  water."  But  that  was  not  the  moment  to  permit  such 
feelings  to  get  the  mastery ;  and  Grace  herself  felt  too  clearly 
that  her  minutes  were  numbered,  to  allow  her  mind  to  dwell  on 
the  subject. 

"An  Almighty  Providence  will  direct  every  thing  for  the 
best,  in  this  as  in  other  things,"  she  murmured ;  though  it  was 
still  some  little  time,  I  thought,  before  her  mind  reverted  to  her 
own  situation.  The  welfare  of  two  as  much  beloved  as  Lucy 
and  myself,  could  not  be  a  matter  of  indifference  to  one  of 
Grace's  disposition,  even  in  the  hour  of  death. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  119 

Mr.  Harchrgc  now  knelt,  and  the  next  quarter  of  an  liour 
passed  in  prayer.  When  the  divine  rose  from  his  knees,  Grace, 
her  countenance  beaming  with  an  angelic  serenity,  gave  him  hjr 
hand,  and  in  a  clear,  distinct  voice,  she  Mttered  a  prayer  for 
blessings,  connecting  her  petitions  with  the  gratitude  due  him,, 
for  his  care  of  us  orphans.  I  never  saw  the  old  man  so  much 
touched  before.  This  unexpected  benediction,  for  it  had  that 
character,  coming  from  youth  to  age,  quite  unmanned  him.  The 
old  man  sunk  into  a  chair,  Aveeping  uncontrollably.  This  aroused 
Lucy,  who  regarded  the  gray  hairs  of  her  father  with  awe,  as 
she  witnessed  the  strength  of  his  emotions.  But  feelings  of  this 
nature  could  not  long  absorb  a  man  like  Mr.  Hardinge,  who  soon 
regained  as  much  of  the  appearance  of  composure  as  it  was  pos 
sible  to  maintain  by  such  a  death-bed. 

"  Many  may  think  me  young  to  die,"  Grace  observed ;  "  but 
I  am  weary  of  the  world.  It  is  my  wish  to  submit  myself  to 
the  will  of  God ;  but,  blessed  be  his  holy  name,  that  he  sees  fit 
to  call  me  to  him  this  day.  Lucy,  beloved  one — go  into  the 
next  room,  and  draw  the  curtain  asunder ;  I  shall  then  be  en 
abled  to  gaze  on  the  fields  of  dear  Clawbonny  once  more ;  that 
will  be  my  last  look  at  the  outer  world." 

This  leave-taking  of  inanimate  things,  objects  long  known 
and  loved,  is  of  frequent  occurrence  with  the  dying.  It  is  not 
in  our  natures  to  quit  forever  this  beautiful  world,  without  cast 
ing  "  one  longing,  lingering  look  behind."  The  hand  of  its 
divine  Creator  was  gloriously  impressed  on  the  rural  loveliness 
of  my  native  fields  that  day,  and  a  holy  tranquillity  seemed  to 
reign  over  the  grain,  the  orchards,  the  meadows,  and  the  wood 
ed  heights.  The  couch  of  Grace  was  purposely  placed  at  a 
point  in  her  own  chamber  that  commanded  a  wide  view  of  the 
farm,  through  the  vista  formed  by  the  door  and  windows  of  the 
adjoining  room.  Here  she  had  often  sat,  during-  her  confine 
ment  to  her  rooms,  contemplating  scenes  so  familiar  and  so 
much  loved.  I  saw  her  lips  quiver  as  she  now  gazed  on  them 
for  the  last  time,  and  was  convinced  some  unusual  sentiment, 
connected  with  the  past,  pressed  on  her  feelings  at  that  instant. 


120  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

i  could  sec  the  same  view  myself,  and  perceived  that  her  cyea 
were  riveted  on  the  little  wood  where  Rupert  and  I  had  met  the 
gjrls  on  our  return  from  sea ;  a  favorite  place  of  resort,  and  one 
(hat,  I  doubted  not,  had  often  been  the  witness  of  the  early  con 
fidence  between  Grace  and  her  recreant  lover.  Death  was 
actually  hovering  over  that  sainted  being  at  the  moment ;  but 
her  woman's  heart  was  not,  could  not,  be  insensible  to  the  im 
pressions  produced  by  such  a  sight.  In  vain  the  warm  light 
from  the  heavens  bathed  the  whole  landscape  in  a  flood  of 
glory  ;  in  vain  the  meadows  put  forth  their  flowers,  the  woods 
their  variegated,  bright,  Ameiican  verdure,  and  the  birds  their 
innocent  gayety  and  brilliant  plumage ;  the  fancy  of  Grace  was 
portraying  scenes  that  had  once  been  connected  with  the  en 
grossing  sentiment  of  her  life.  I  felt  her  .tremble,  as  she  lay  in 
my  arms ;  and  bending  my  head  toward  her  in  tender  concern, 
I  could  just  distinguish  the  murmuring  of  a  prayer  that  it  was 
easy  to  understand  was  a  petition  offered  up  in  behalf  of  Rupert. 
This  done,  she  asked,  herself,  to  have  the  curtain  drawn  again, 
to  shut  out  the  obtrusive  thought  forever. 

I  have  often  thought,  since  the  events  of  that  sad  day,  that 
Grace's  dissolution  was  hastened  by  this  accidental  recurrence 
of  her  mind  to  Rupert  and  his  forgotten  love.  I  call  it  love, 
though  I  question  if  a  being  so  thoroughly  selfish  ever  truly 
loved  any  one  but  himself;  perhaps  not  himself,  indeed,  in  a 
way  to  entitle  the  feeling  to  so  respectable  an  epithet,  Grace 
certainly  drooped  the  faster  from  that  unfortunate  moment.  It 
is  true,  we  all  expected  her  death,  thought  it  would  occur  that 
day  even,  though  surprised  at  the  suddenness  with  which  it 
came  at  last ;  hut  we  did  not  expect  it  within  an  hour. 

And  what  an  hour  was  that  which  succeeded  !  Both  Mr. 
Ilardinge  and  Lucy  passed  quite  half  of  it  on  their  knees,  en 
gaged  in  silent  prayer;  for  it  was  thought  petitions  uttered 
aloud  might  disturb  the  sick.  There  were  minutes  in  which 
the  stillness  of  the  tomb  already  reigned  among  us.  I  am  not ' 
enough  of  a  physician  to  say  whether  the  change  that  now 
came  over  my  sister's  mind  was  the  consequence  of  any  shock 


MILES      WALLINGFOKD.  121 

received  in  that  long,  intense  look  at  the  wood,  or  whether  it 
proceeded  from  the  sinking  of  the  system,  and  was  connected 
with  that  mysterious  link  which  binds  the  immortal  part  of  our 
being  so  closely  to  the  material,  until  the  tie  is  loosened  for 
ever.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  Grace's  thoughts  wandered; 
and,  while  they  never  lost  entirely  their  leaning  toward  faith 
and  a  bright  Christian  hope,  they  became  tinctured  with  some 
thing  allied  to  childish  simplicity,  if  not  absolutely  to  mental 
weakness.  Nevertheless,  there  was  a  moral  beauty  about  Grace, 
that  no  failing  of  the  faculties  could  ever  totally  eradicate. 

It  was  fully  half  an  hour  that  the  breathing  quiet  of  prayer 
lasted.  In  all  that  time  my  sister  scarcely  stirred,  her  own 
hands  being  clasped  together,  and  her  eyes  occasionally  lifted  to 
heaven.  At  length  she  seemed  to  revive  a  little,  and  to  observe 
external  objects.  In  the  end,  she  spoke. 

"  Lucy,  dearest,"  she  said,  "  what  has  become  of  Eupert  ? 
Docs  he  know  I  am  dying  ?  If  so,  why  does  he  not  come  and 
see  me,  for  the  last  time  ?" 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  for.  me  to  say  how  much  Lucy  and 
myself  were  startled  at  this  question.  The  former  buried  her 
face  in  her  hands  without  making  any  reply ;  but  good  Mr. 
Hardinge,  altogether  unconscious  of  any  thing's  being  wrong, 
was  eager  to  exculpate  his  son. 

"  Rupert  has  been  sent  for,  my  dear  child,"  he  said,  "  and, 
though  he  is  engrossed  with  love  and  Miss  Morton,  he  will  not 
fail  to  hasten  hither  the  instant  he  receives  my  letter." 

"  Miss  Merton  !"  repeated  Grace,  pressing  both  her  hands  on 
her  temples — "  who  is  she  ?  I  do  not  remember  anybody  of 
that  name  2" 

We  now  understood  that  the  mind  of  the  dear  patient  was 
losing  its  powers ;  of  course  no  efforts  were  made  to  give  a 
truer  direction  to  her  thoughts.  We  could  only  listen,  and 
weep.  Presently,  Grace  passed  an  arm  round  the  neck  of  Lucy, 
and  drew  her  toward  her,  with  a  childish  earnestness. 

"  Lucy,  love,"  she  continued,  "  we  will  persuade  these  foolish 
boys  from  this  notion  of  going  lo  son.  What  if  Miles's  father, 
0 


122  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

and  Rupert's  great-grandfather  were  sailors;  it  is  no  reason 
they  should  be  sailors  too  !" 

She  paused,  appeared  to  meditate,  and  turned  toward  me. 
Her  head  was  still  inclining  on  my  bosom,  and  she  gazed  up 
ward  at  my  face ;  as  fondly  as  she  did  in  that  tender  meeting 
we  held  just  after  my  return  home,  in  the  family  room.  There 
was  sufficient  strength  to  enable  her  to  raise  her  pallid  but  not 
emaciated  hand  to  my  face,  even  while  she  passed  it  over  my 
cheeks,  once  more  parting  the  curls  on  my  temples,  and  playing 
with  my  hair,  with  infantile  fondness. 

"  Miles,"  the  dear  angel  whispered,  utterance  beginning  to 
fail  her,  "  do  you  remember  what  mother  told  us  about  always 
speaking  the  truth  ?  You  are  a  manly  boy,  brother,  and  have 
too  much  pride  to  say  any  thing  but  the  truth ;  I  wish  Ru 
pert  were  as  frank." 

This  was  the  first,  the  last,  the  only  intimation  I  had  ever 
heard  from  Grace,  of  her  being  conscious  of  any  defect  in  Ru 
pert's  character.  Would  to  God  she  had  seen  this  important 
deficiency  earlier !  though  this  is  wishing  a  child  to  possess  the 
discernment  and  intelligence  of  a  woman.  The  hand  was  still 
on  my  cheek,  and  I  would  not  have  had  it  removed  at  that 
bitter  moment  to  have  been  well  assured  of  Lucy's  love. 

"  See,"  my  sister  resumed,  though  she  now  spoke  merely  in  a 
•whisper,  "how  brown  his  cheek  is,  though  his  forehead  is 
white.  I  doubt  if  "mother  would  know  him,  Lucy.  Is  Rupert's 
cheek  as  brown  as  this,  dear  ?" 

"  Rupert  has  not  been  as  much  exposed  of  late  as  Miles," 
Lucy  answered  huskily,  Grace's  arm  still  clinging  to  her  neck. 

The  •well-known  voice  appeared  to  awaken  a  new  train  of 
thought. 

"Lucy,"  my  sister  asked,  "are  you  as  fond  of  Miles  as  we  both 
used  to  be,  when  children  ?" 

"  I  have  always  had,  and  shall  ever  retain,  a  deep  affection  for 
Miles  Wallingford,"  Lucy  answered  steadily. 

Grace  now  turned  toward  me,  releasing  her  hold  of  Lucy's 
neck,  from  pure  inability  to  sustain  it ;  and  she  fastened  her 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  123 

serene  blue  eyes  on  my  countenance,  whence  they  never  devi 
ated  while  she  breathed.  My  tears  were  uncontrollable,  and 
they  seemed  to  perplex  rather  than  distress  her.  Of  a  sudden, 
we  heard  her  voice  aloud,  speaking  gently,  but  with  a  fervor 
that  rendered  it  distinct.  The  words  she  uttered  were  full  of 
the  undying  affection  of  a  heart  that  never  turned  away  from 
me  for  a  single  instant ;  no,  not  even  in  the  petulance  of  child 
hood.  "Almighty  Father,"  she  said,  "look  down  from  thy 
mercy-seat  on  this  dear  brother — keep  him  for  thyself;  and,  in 
thy  good  time,  call  him,  through  the  Saviour's  love,  to  thy  man 
sions  of  bliss." 

These  were  the  last  words  that  Grace  Wallingford  'ever  spoke. 
She  lived  ten  minutes  longer ;  and  she  died  on  my  bosom  like 
the  infant  that  breathes  its  last  in  the  arms  of  its  mother.  Her 
lips  moved  several  times ;  once  I  fancied  I  caught  the  name  of 
"Lucy,"  though  I  have  reason  to  think  she  prayed  for  us  all, 
Rupert  included,  down  to  the  moment  she  ceased  to  exist. 


124  MILES     WALLIXGFOKU. 


"There  have  been  sweet  singing  voices 

In  your  walks  that  now  are  still ; 
There  are  seats  left  void,  in  your  earthly  homes, 
Which  none  again  may  fllL" 

MBS.  1  TI-.MA  xs. 

I  NEVER  saw  the  body  of  my  sister,  after  I  handed  it,  resem 
bling  a  sleeping  infant,  to  the  arms  of  Lucy.  There  is  a  sort  of 
mania  in  some,  a  morbid  curiosity,  to  gaze  on  the  features  of  the 
dead ;  but,  with  me,  it  has  ever  been  the  reverse.  I  had  been 
taken  to  the  family  room  to  contemplate  and  weep  over  the 
faces  of  both  my  parents,  but  this  was  at  an  age  when  it  be 
came  me  to  be  passive.  I  was  now  at  a  time  of  life  when  I 
might  be  permitted  to  judge  for  myself;  and,  as  soon  as  I  began 
to  think  at  all  on  the  subject,  which  was  not  for  some  hours, 
however,  I  resolved  that  the  last  look  of  love,  the  sweet  counte 
nance,  sinking  in  death  it  is  true,  but  still  animate  and  beaming 
with  the  sentiments  of  her  pure  heart,  should  be  the  abiding 
impression  of  my  sister's  form.  I  have  cherished  it  ever  since, 
and  often  have  I  rejoiced  that  I  did  not  permit  any  subsequent 
images  of  a  corpse  to  supplant  it.  As  respects  both  my  parents, 
the  images  left  on  my  mind,  for  years  and  years,  were  painful 
rather  than  pleasing. 

Grace's  body  was  no  sooner  out  of  my  arms,  I  had  scarcely 
imprinted  the  last  long  kiss  on  the  ivory-like  but  still  warm 
forehead,  than  I  left  the  house.  Clawbonny  had  no  impertinent 
eyes  to  drive  a  mourner  to  his  closet,  and  I  felt  as  if  it  were  im 
possible  to  breathe  unless  I  could  obtain  the  freedom  of  the 
open  air.  As  I  crossed  the  little  lawn,  the  wails  from  the 
kitchens  reached  me.  Now  that  the  invalid  could  no  longei 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  125 

be  disturbed  by  their  lamentations,  the  unsophisticated  negroes 
gave  vent  to  their  feelings  without  reserve.  I  heard  their  out 
cries  long  after  every  other  sound  from  the  house  was  lost  on 
my  ear. 

I  held  my  way  along  the  road,  with  no  other  view  but  to  es 
cape  from  the  scene  I  had  just  quitted,  and  entered  the  very 
little  wood  which  might  be  said  to  have  been  the  last  object  of 
the  external  world  that  had  attracted  my  sister's  attention. 
Here  every  thing  reminded  me  of  the  past ;  of  the  days  of 
childhood  and  youth ;  of  the  manner  in  which  the  four  Claw- 
bonny  children  had  lived  together,  and  roamed  these  very 
thickets  in  confidence  and  love.  I  sat  in  that  wood  an  hour ;  a 
strange,  unearthly  hour  it  seemed  to  me !  I  saw  Grace's  angel 
countenance  imprinted  on  the  leaves,  heard  her  low,  but  gay 
laugh,  as  she  was  wont  to  let  it  be  heard  in  the  hours  of  happi 
ness,  and  the  tones  of  her  gentle  voice  sounded  in  my  ears  al 
most  as  familiarly  as  in  life.  Rupert  and  Lucy  were  there,  too. 
I  saw  them,  heard  them,  and  tried  to  enter  into  their  innocent 
merriment,  as  I  had  done  of  old ;  but  fearful  glimpses  of  tho 
sad  truth  would  interpose  in  time  to  break  the  charm. 

When  I  left  that  little  wood,  it  was  to  seek  a  larger  cover,  and 
fields  further  removed  from  the  house.  It  was  dark  before  I 
thought  of  returning ;  all  that  time  was  passed  in  a  species  of 
mystical  hallucination,  in  which  the  mind  was  lost  in  scenes 
foreign  to  those  actually  present.  I  saw  Grace's  sweet  image 
everywhere ;  I  heard  her  voice  at  every  turn.  Now  she  was  tho 
infant  I  was  permitted  to  drag  in  her  little  wagon,  the  earliest 
of  all  my  impressions  of  that  beloved  sister ;  then,  she  was  fol 
lowing  me  as  I  trundled  my  hoop  ;  next  came  her  little  lessons 
in  morals,  and  warnings  against  doing  wrong,  or  some  grave, 
but  gentle  reproof  for  errors  actually  committed  ;  after  which  I 
saw  her  in  the  pride  of  young  womanhood,  lovely  and  fitted  to 
be  loved,  the  sharer  of  my  confidence,  and  one  capable  of  enter 
ing  into  all  my  plans  of  life.  How  often  that  day  did  the  mur 
muring  of  a  brook,  or  the  humming  of  a  bee  become  blended  in 
my  imagination  with  the  song,  the  laugh,  the  call  or  the  pray- 


126  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

ers  of  that  beloved  sister  whose  spirit  had  ascended  to  heaven, 
and  who  was  no  more  to  mingle  in  my  concerns  or  those  of  life  ! 

At  one  time  I  had  determined  to  pass  the  night  abroad,  and 
commune  with  the  stars,  each  of  which  I  fancied,  in  turn,  as 
they  began  slowly  to  show  themselves  in  the  vault  above,  might 
be  the  abiding-place  of  the  departed  spirit.  If  I  thought  so 
much  and  so  intensely  of  Grace,  I  thought  also  of  Lucy.  Nor 
was  good  Mr.  Hardinge  entirely  forgotten.  I  felt  for  their  un 
easiness,  and  saw  it  was  my  duty  to  return.  Neb  and  two  or 
three  others  of  the  blacks  had  been  looking  for  me  in  all  direc 
tions  but  that  in  which  I  was ;  and  I  felt  a  melancholy  pleasure 
as  I  occasionally  saw  these  simple-minded  creatures  meet  and 
converse.  Their  gestures,  their  earnestness,  their  tears,  for  I 
could  see  that  they  were  often  weeping,  indicated  alike  that  they 
were  speaking  of  their  "  young  mistress ;"  how  they  spoke,  I 
wanted  no  other  communications  to  understand. 

Ours  had  ever  been  a  family  of  love.  My  father,  manly, 
affectionate,  and  strongly  attached  to  my  mother,  was  admirably 
suited  to  sustain  that  dominion  of  the  heart  which  the  last  had 
established  from  her  earliest  days  at  Clawbonny.  This  power 
of  the  feelings  had  insensibly  extended  itself  to  the  slaves,  who 
seldom  failed  to  manifest  how  keenly  alive  they  all  were  to  the 
interests  and  happiness  of  their  owners.  Among  the  negroes, 
there  was  but  one  who  was  considered  as  fallen  below  his  proper 
level,  or  who  was  regarded  as  an  outcast.  This  was  an  old  fel 
low  who  bore  the  name  of  Vulcan,  and  who  worked  as  a  black 
smith  on  the  skirts  of  the  farm,  having  been  named  by  my 
grandfather  with  the  express  intention  of  placing  him  at  the  an 
vil.  This  fellow's  trade  caused  him  to  pass  most  of  his  youth 
in  an  adjacent  village,  or  hamlet,  where  unfortunately  he  had 
acquired  habits  that  unsuited  him  to  live  as  those  around  him 
were  accustomed  to  live.  He  became,  in  a  measure,  alienated 
from  us,  drinking,  and  otherwise  living  a  life  that  brought  great 
scandal  on  his  sable  connections,  who  were  gathered  more  close 
ly  around  the  homestead.  Nevertheless,  a  death,  or  a  return 
home,  or  any  important  event,  in  the  family,  was  sure  to  bring 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  127 

even  Vulcan  back  to  his  allegiance ;  and,  for  a  month  afterward, 
lie  would  be  a  reformed  man.  On  this  occasion  he  was  one  of 
those  who  were  out  in  the  fields  and  woods  in  quest  of  me,  and 
he  happened  to  be  the  very  individual  by  whom  I  was  dis 
covered. 

The  awe-struck,  solemn  manner  in  which  the  reckless  Vulcan 
approached,  were  all  other  proofs  wanting,  would  have  proclaim 
ed  the  weight  of  the  blow  that  had  fallen  on  Clawbonny.  Tho 
eyes  of  this  fellow  were  always  red,  but  it  was  easy  to  see  that 
even  he  had  been  shedding  tears.  He  knew  he  was  no  favorite ; 
seldom  came  near  me,  unless  it  were  to  excuse  some  of  his  neg 
lects  or  faults,  and  lived  under  a  sort  of  ban  for  his  constantly 
recurring  misdeeds.  Nevertheless,  a  common  cause  of  grief 
now  gave  him  confidence,  and  Neb  himself  could  hardly  have 
approached  me  with  a  manner  of  more  easy,  but  respectful 
familiarity. 

"  Ah  !  Masser  Mile !  Masser  Mile !"  Vulcan  exclaimed,  ccr 
tain  that  we  felt  alike  on  this  topic,  if  on  no  other;  "poor 
young  missus !  when  we  ebber  get  'noder  like  she?" 

"  My  sister  is  in  heaven,.  Vulcan,  where  I  hope  all  at  Claw- 
bonny,  blacks  as  well  as  whites,  will  endeavor  to  meet  her,  by 
living  in  a  manner  that  will  improve  the  mercy  of  God." 

"  You  t'ink  dat  posserbul,  Masser  Mile  ?"  demanded  the  old 
man,  fixing  his  dull  eyes  on  me,  with  an  earnest  intentness 
that  proved  he  had  not  entirely  lost  all  sensibility  to  his  moral 
condition. 

"  All  things  are  possible  with  God,  Vulcan.  Keeping  him 
and  his  commandments  constantly  in  mind,  you  may  still  hope 
to  see  your  young  mistress,  and  to  share  in  her  happiness." 

"  Wonnerful !"  exclaimed  the  old  man ;  "  dat  would  be  a 
great  conserlation.  Ah !  Masser  Mile,  how  often  she  come 
when  a  little  lady  to  my  shop  door,  and  ask  to  see  'e  spark  fly ! 
Miss  Grace  hab  a  great  taste  for  blacksrnit'in',  and  a  great  knowl 
edge  too.  I  do  t'ink,  dat  next  to  some  odor  t'ing,  she  lub  to 
see  iron  red-hot,  and  'e  horse  shod  !" 

"  You  have  come  to  look  for  me,  Vulcan,  and  I  thank  you  for 


128  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

this  care.  I  shall  return  to  the  house  presently ;  you  need  give 
yourself  no  further  trouble.  Remember,  old  man,  that  the 
only  hope  that  remains  of  either  of  us  ever  seeing  Miss  Grace 
again,  is  in  living  as  Mr.  Hardinge  so  often  tells  us  all  we  ought 
to  live." 

"  Wonnerful !"  repeated  old  Vulcan,  whose  mind  and  feelings 
were  in  a  happy  condition  to  receive  such  a  lesson.  "  Yes,  sak, 
Masser  Mile ;  she  come  to  my  shop  to  see  'e  spark  fly ; — I  shall 
miss  her  like  a  darter." 

This  was  a  specimen  of  the  feelings  that  prevailed  among  the 
negroes,  though  the  impression  on  most  of  the  others  was  more 
lasting  than  that  made  on  the  blacksmith,  whom  I  now  dismiss 
ed,  taking  the  path  myself  that  led  to  the  house.  It  Avas  quito 
dark  when  I  crossed  the  lawn.  A  figure  was  just  visible  in  the 
shadows  of  the  piazza,  and  I  was  on  the  point  of  turning  in  the 
direction  of  a  side  door,  in  order  to  avoid  the  meeting,  when 
Lucy  advanced  eagerly  to  the  edge  of  the  steps  to  receive  me. 

"  Oh  !  Miles — dear  Miles,  how  happy  I  am  to  see  you  again !" 
the  precious  girl  said,  taking  my  hand  with  the  warmth  and 
frankness  of  a  sister.  "  My  father  and  myself  have  been  very 
uneasy  about  you  ;  my  father,  indeed,  has  walked  toward  the 
rectory,  thinking  you  may  have  gone  thither." 

"  I  have  been  with  you,  and  Grace,  and  your  father,  my  good 
Lucy,  ever  since  we  parted.  I  am  more  myself  now,  however, 
and  you  need  feel  no  further  concern  on  my  account.  I  thank 
you  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  for  that  which  you  have  al 
ready  felt,  and  will  give  you  no  further  concern." 

The  manner  in  which  Lucy  now  burst  into  tears  betrayed  the 
intensity  of  the  feelings  that  had  been  pent  up  in  her  bosom, 
and  the  relief  she  found  in  my  assurances.  She  did  not  scruple, 
even,  about  leaning  on  my  shoulder,  so  long  as  the  paroxysm 
lasted.  As  soon  as  able  to  command  herself,  however,  she  wiped 
her  eyes,  again  took  my  hand  with  confiding  affection,  looked 
anxiously  toward  me  as  she  said,  soothingly — 

"  We  have  met  with  a  great  loss,  Miles  ;  one  that  even  time 
cannot  repair.  Neither  of  us  can  ever  find  another  to  fill  the 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  129 

place  that  Grace  has  occupied.  Our  lives  cannot  be  lived  over 
again ;  we  cannot  return  to  childhood ;  feel  as  children ;  love  as 
children ;  live  as  children ;  and  grow  up  together,  as  it  might  be, 
with  one  heart,  with  the  same  views,  the  same  wishes,  the  same 
opinion ;  I  hope  it  is  not  presuming  on  too  great  a  resemblance 
to  the  departed  angel,  if  I  add,  the  same  principle." 

"  No,  Lucy  ;  the  past,  for  us,  is  gone  forever.  Clawbonny 
will  never  again  be  the  Clawbonny  it  was." 

There  was  a  pause',  during  which  I  fancied  Lucy  was  strug 
gling  to  repress  some  fresh  burst  of  emotion. 

"  Yet,  Miles,"  she  presently  resumed,  "  we  could  not  ask  to 
have  her  recalled  from  that  bliss  which  we  have  so  much  reason 
to  believe  she  is  even  now  enjoying.  In  a  short  time  Grace 
Avill  be  to  you  and  me  a  lovely  and  grateful  image  of  goodness, 
and  virtue,  and  affection  ;  and  we  shall  have  a  saddened,  per 
haps,  but  a  deep-felt  pleasure  in  remembering  how  much  we 
enjoyed  of  her  affection,  and  how  closely  she  was  united  to  us 
both  in  life." 

"  That  will  be  indeed  a  link  between  us  two,  Lucy,  that  I  trust 
may  withstand  all  the  changes  and  withering  selfishness  cf  the 
world !" 

"  I  hope  it  may,  Miles,"  Lucy  answered  in  a  low  voice,  and, 
as  I  fancied  at  the  moment,  with  an  embarrassment  that  I  did 
not  fail  to  attribute  to  the  consciousness  she  felt  of  Andrew 
Drewett's  claims  on  all  such  intimate  association  of  feeling. 
"  We,  who  have  known  each  other  from  children,  can  scarcely 
want  causes  for  continuing  to  esteem  and  to  regard  each  other 

o  o 

Avith  affection." 

Lucy  now  appeared  to  think  she  might  leave  me  to  myself, 
and  she  led  the  way  into  the  house.  I  did  not  see  her  again 
until  Mr.  Hardinge  caused  the  whole  household  to  be  assembled 
at  evening  prayers.  The  meeting  of  the  family  that  night  was 
solemn  and  mournful.  For  myself,  I  fancied  that  the  spirit  of 
Grace  was  hovering  around  us ;  more  than  once  did  I  fancy  that 
I  heard  her  sweet  voice  mingling  in  the  petitions,  or  leading  the 
service,  as  was  her  practice  on  those  occasions  when  our  good 


130  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

guardian  could  not  attend.  I.  observed  all  the  negroes  looting 
at  me  with  solicitude,  like  those  who  recognized  my  right  to 
feel  the  blow  the  deepest.  It  was  a  touching  evidence  of  re 
spectful  interest  that  each  man  bowed  to  me  reverently,  and  each 
woman  curtsied,  as  he  or  she  left  the  room.  As  for  Chloe,  sobs 
nearly  choked  her,  the  poor  girl  having  refused  to  quit  the  body 
of  her  mistress  except  for  that  short  moment.  I  thought  Lucy 
would  have  remained  with  her  father  and  myself  for  a  few  min 
utes,  but  for  the  necessity  of  removing  this  poor  heart-stricken 
creature,  who  really  felt  as  if  the  death  of  her  young  mistress 
was  a  loss  of  part  of  her  own  existence. 

I  have  already  dwelt  on  the  circumstances  attending  the  death 
of  Grace  longer  than  I  intended,  and  shall  now  cease  to  harass 
my  own  feelings,  or  to  distress  those  of  my  readers  by  unneces 
sarily  enlarging  on  more  of  the  details.  The  next  three  or  four 
days  produced  the  usual  calm ;  and  though  it  was  literally  years 
ere  Lucy  or  myself  ceased  altogether  to  weep  for  her  loss,  we 
both  obtained  the  self-command  that  was  necessary  for  the  dis 
charge  of  our  ordinary  duties.  Grace,  it  will  be  remembered, 
died  of  a  Sunday,  about  the  usual  hour  for  dinner.  Agreeably 
to  the  custom  of  the  country,  in  which  there  is  usually  a  little 
too  much  of  an  indecent  haste  in  disposing  of  the  dead,  owing 
in  some  degree  to  climate,  however,  the  funeral  would  have 
taken  place  on  Wednesday,  and  that  would  have  been  delaying 
twenty-four  hours  longer  than  might  have  been  granted  in  most 
cases ;  but  Mr.  Hardingo,  who  gave  all  the  directions,  had 
named  Thursday  noon  as  the  hour  for  the  interment.  We  had 
few  relatives  to  expect ;  most  of  those  who  would  have  been 
likely  to  attend,  had  circumstances  admitted  of  it,  living  in  dis 
tant  places  that  rendered  it  inconvenient,  and  indeed  scarcely 
possible. 

I  passed  most  of  the  intervening  time  in  my  study,  reading 
and  indulging  in  such  contemplations  as  naturally  suggest  them 
selves  to  the  mourner.  Lucy,  dear  girl,  had  written  me  two  or 
three  short  notes,  asking  my  wishes  on  various  points,  among 
other  things,  when  I  wished  to  pay  a  last  visit  to  the  body.  My 


MILES      AVALLINGFORD.  131 

answer  to  this  question  brought  her  to  my  room,  with  some 
little  surprise  of  manner ;  for  she  had  been  so  much  with  Grace, 
living  and  dead,  as  to  think  it  strange  one  who  had  loved  her  so 
well  while  living  should  not  desire  to  take  a  final  look  at  tha 
beautiful  remains.  I  explained  my  feelings  on  this  head,  and 
Lucy  seemed  struck  with  them. 

"  I  am  not  sure  you  will  not  have  decided  wisely,  Miles,"  she 
said,  "  the  picture  being  one  too  precious  to  destroy.  You  will 
be  gratified  in  knowing,  however,  that  Grace  resembles  an  angel 
quite  as  much  in  death  as  she  did  in  life ;  all  who  have  seen  her 
being  struck  with  the  air  of  peaceful  tranquillity  her  features 
now  present." 

"  Bless  you,  bless  you,  Lucy,  this  is  all-sufficient.  I  did  wish 
for  some  such  assurance,  and  am  now  content." 

"  Several  of  your  family  are  in  the  house,  Miles,  in  readiness 
to  attend  the  funeral.  A  stranger  has  just  arrived  who  seems 
to  have  some  such  desire,  too,  though  his  face  is  unknown  to  all 
at  the  place ;  he  has  asked  to  see  you  with  an  earnestness  that 
my  father  scarce  knows  how  to  refuse." 

"  Let  him  come  here,  then,  Lucy.  I  can  only  suppose  it  to 
be  some  one  of  the  many  persons  Grace  has  served ;  her  short 
life  Avas  all  activity  in  that  particular." 

Lucy's  face  did  not  corroborate  that  notion ;  but  she  with 
drew  to  let  my  decision  be  known.  In  a  few  minutes  a  large, 
hard-featured,  but  not  ill-looking  man  approaching  fifty,  entered 
my  room,  walked  up  to  me  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  squeezed  my 
hand  warmly,  and  then  seated  himself  without  ceremony.  He 
was  attired  like  a  thriving  countryman,  though  his  language, 
accent,  and  manner  denoted  one  superior  to  the  ordinary  run  of 
those  with  whom  he  was  otherwise  associated  in  externals.  I 
had  to  look  at  him  a  second  time  ere  I  could  recognize  Jack 
Waflingford,  my  father's  bachelor  cousin,  the  western  land 
holder. 

"  I  see  by  your  look,  cousin  Miles,  that  you  only  half  remem 
ber  me,"  my  visitor  remarked ;  "  I  deeply  regret  that  I  am 
obliged  to  renew  our  acquaintance  on  so  melancholy  an  occasion." 


132  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  Tiicrc  arc  so  few  of  us  left,  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  this  kind 
ness  -will  be  doubly  appreciated,"  I  answered.  "  If  I  did  not 
give  orders  to  have  you  apprised  of  the  loss  we  have  all  sus 
tained,  it  is  because  your  residence  is  so  far  from  Clawbonny  as 
to  render  it  improbable  you  could  have  received  the  intelligence 
in  tune  to  attend  the  solemn  ceremony  that  remains  to  be  per 
formed.  I  did  intend  to  write  to  you,  when  a  little  better  fitted 
to  perform  such  a  duty." 

"  I  thank  you,  cousin.  The  blood  and  name  of  Wallingford 
are  very  near  and  dear  to  me,  and  Clawbonny  has  always  seemed 
a  sort  of  home." 

"The  dear  creature  \vho  now  lies  dead  under  its  roof,  cousin 
John,  so  considered  you ;  and  you  may  be  pleased  to  know  that 
she  wished  me  to  leave  you  this  property  in  my  will  the  last 
time  I  went  to  sea,  as  of  the  direct  line,  a  Wallingford  being 
the  proper  owner  of  Clawbonny.  In  that  particular,  she  pre 
ferred  your  claims  to  her  own." 

"  Ay,  this  agrees  with  all  I  ever  heard  of  the  angel,"  an 
swered  John  Wallingford,  dashing  a  tear  from  his  eyes,  a  cir 
cumstance  that  gave  one  a  favorable  opinion  of  his  heart.  "  Of 
course  you  refused,  and  left  the  property  to  herself,  who  had  a 
better  right  to  it." 

"  I  did,  sir ;  though  she  threatened  to  transfer  it  to  you,  the 
moment  it  became  hers." 

"  A  threat  she  would  have  found  it  difficult  to  execute,  as  1 
certainly  would  have  refused  to  receive  it.  We  are  half  savages, 
no  doubt,  out  west  of  the  bridge  ;  but  our  lands  are  beginning 
to  tell  in  the  markets,  and  we  count  already  some  rich  men 
among  us." 

This  was  said  with  a  self-satisfied  manner,  that  my  cousin  was 
a  little  too  apt  to  assume  when  property  became  the  subject  of 
conversation.  I  had  occasion  several  times  that  day,  even,  to 
remark  that  he  attached  a  high  value  to  money ;  though,  at  the 
same  time,  it  struck  me  that  most  of  his  notions  were  just  and 
honorable.  lie  quite  worked  his  way  into  my  favor,  however, 
by  the  respect  he  manifested  for  Clawbonny,  and  all  that  be- 


MILES     WALLINGFORD-  133 

ongcd  to  it.  So  deep  was  this  veneration,  that  I  "began  to  think 
of  the  necessity  of  making  a  new  will,  in  order  to  bequeath  him 
the  place  in  the  event  of  my  dying  without  heirs,  as  I  now  im 
agined  must  sooner  or  later  occur.  As  Lucy  was  not  likely  to 
be  my  wife,  no  one  else,  I  fancied,  ever  should  be.  I  had  nearer 
ralations  than  Jack  Wallingford,  some  of  whom  were  then  in 
the  house ;  cousins-german  by  both  father  and  mother ;  but 
they  were  not  of  the  direct  line ;  and  I  knew  that  Miles  the 
First  would  have  made  this  disposition  of  the  place,  could  he 
have  foreseen  events,  and  had  the  law  allowed  it.  Then  Grace 
Lad  wished  such  an  arrangement,  and  I  had  a  sad  happiness  in 
executing  all  the  known  wishes  of  my  sister. 

The  funeral  did  not  occur  until  the  day  after  the  arrival  of 
John  Wallingford,  who  accidentally  heard  of  the  death  that  had 
occurred  in  the  family,  and  came  uninvited  to  attend  the  obse 
quies,  as  has  been  mentioned.  I  passed  most  of  the  evening  in 
the  company  of  this  relative,  with  Avhom  I  became  so  much 
pleased  as  to  request  he  would  walk  with  me  next  day  as  sec 
ond  nearest  of  kin.  This  arrangement,  as  I  had  reason  to  know 
in  the  end,  gave  great  offence  to  several  who  stood  one  degree 
nearer  in  blood  to  the  deceased,  though  not  of  her  name.  Thus 
are  we  constituted ! — we  will  quarrel  over  a  grave  even,  a  mo 
ment  that  should  lay  open  eternity  to  our  view,  with  all  its  im 
mense  consequences  and  accompaniments,  in  order  to  vindicate 
feelings  and  passions  that  can  only  interest  us,  as  it  might  be, 
for  a  day.  Fortunately  I  knew  nothing  of  the  offence  that  was 
taken  at  the  time,  nor  did  I  see  any  of  my  kinsmen  but  John 
Wallingford  that  evening ;  his  presence  in  my  room  being 
owing  altogether  to  a  certain  self-possession  and  an  d  plomb 
that  caused  him  to  do  very  much  as  he  pleased  in  such  mat 
ters. 

I  rose  on  the  following  morning  at  a  late  hour,  and  with  a 
heaviness  at  the  heart  that  was  natural  to  the  occasion.  It  was 
a  lovely  summer's  day,  but  all  in  and  around  Clawbonny  Avore 
the  air  of  a  Sunday.  The  procession  was  to  form  at  ten  o'clock, 
and  as  T  cast  my  eyes  from  my  window,  I  could  sec  the  negroes 


134  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

moving  about  on  the  lawns,  and  in  the  lanes,  attired  m  their 
best,  but  wearing  no  holiday  faces.  It  seemed  to  me  to  be  a 
species  of  unnatural  Sabbath,  possessing  all  its  solemnity,  its 
holy  stillness,  its  breathing  calm,  but  wanting  in  that  solacing 
spirit  of  peace  Avhich  is  so  apt  to  be  imparted  to  the  day  of  rest 
in  the  country,  most  particularly  at  that  season  of  the  year. 
Several  of  the  neighbors  who  did  not  belong  to  Clawbonny 
were  beginning  to  appear ;  and  I  felt  the  necessity  of  dressing 
in  order  to  be  in  readiness  for  what  was  to  follow. 

I  had  eaten  alone  in  my  little  study  or  library  from  the  time 
my  sister  died,  and  had  seen  no  one  since  my  return  to  the 
house,  the  servants  excepted,  besides  my  guardian,  Lucy,  and 
John  Wallingford.  The  last  had  taken  a  light  supper  with  me 
the  previous  night,  but  he  was  then  breakfasting  with  the  rest 
of  the  guests  in  the  family  eating-room,  Mr.  Ilardinge  doing  the 
honors  of  the  house. 

As  for  myself,  I  found  my  own  little  table  prepared  with  its 
coffee  and  light  meal,  as  I  had  ordered  before  retiring.  I  had 
two  cups,  however,  and  a  second  plate  had  been  laid  in  addition 
to  my  own.  I  pointed  to  this  arrangement,  and  demanded  of 
the  old  white-headed  house- servant,  who  was  in  waiting,  what 
it  meant. 

"  Miss  Lucy,  sah  ;  she  say  she  mean  to  breakfast  wid  Masscr 
Mile,  dis  mornin',  sah." 

Even  the  accents  of  this  negro  were  solemn  and  sad  as  he 
made  this  familiar  explanation,  like  those  of  a  man  who  was 
conscious  of  having  reached  an  hour  and  an  occasion  that  called 
for  peculiar  awe.  I  bade  him  let  Miss  Lucy  know  that  I  was  in 
the  study. 

"  Ah,  Masser  Mile,"  added  the  old  man,  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
as  he  left  the  room,  "  Miss  Lucy  'c  only  young  missus  now, 
sah !" 

In  a  few  minutes  Lucy  joined  me.  She  was  in  deep  black, 
of  course,  and  that  may  have  added  to  the  appearance  of  pale 
ness,  but  no  one  could  be  deceived  in  the  manner  in  which  the 
dear  girl  had  mourned  and  wept  since  we  parted.  The  sub- 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  l!55 

ducd  expression  of  her  face  gave  it  a  peculiar  sweetness,  and  in 
spite  of  the  absence  of  color,  I  thought,  as  Lucy  advanced  to 
ward,  me,  both  hands  extended,  and  a  smile  of  anxious  inquiry 
on  her  lips,  that  she  had  never  appeared  more  lovely.  I  did 
not  hesitate  about  pressing  those  hands  with  fervor,  and  of  kiss 
ing  the  warm  though  colorless  cheek.  All  this  passed  as  it 
might  have  done  between  an  affectionate  brother  and  sister, 
neither  of  us  thinking,  I  am  persuaded,  of  aught  but  the  confi 
dence  and  friendship  of  childhood. 

"  This  is  kind  of  you,  dear  Lucy,"  I  said,  as  we  took  our  seats 
at  the  little  table ;  "  my  cousin  John  Wallingford,  though  a  good 
man  in  the  main,  is  scarcely  near  enough,  or  dear  enough,  to  be 
admitted  at  a  time  like  this." 

"I  have  seen  him,"  Lucy  replied,  the  tremor  in  her  voice 
showing  how  hard  she  found  it  to  avoid  melting  in  tears,  "  and 
rather  like  him.  I  believe  he  was  a  favorite  of  mamma  Walling 
ford,"  so  Lucy  was  accustomed  to  call  my  mother,  "  and  that 
ought  to  be  a  high  recommendation  with  us,  Miles." 

"  I  am  disposed  to  like  him,  and  shall  endeavor  to  keep  up 
more  intercourse  with  him  than  I  have  hitherto  done.  It  is  as 
we  begin  to  find  ourselves  alone  in  the  world,  Lucy,  that  we  first 
feel  the  necessity  of  counting  blood  and  kin,  and  of  looking 
around  us  for  support." 

"  Alone  you  are  not,  Miles,  and  never  can  be  while  I  and  my 
dear  father  live.  We  are  certainly  nearer  to  you  than  any  that 
now  remain  among  your  blood  relatives  !  You  can  neither  suf 
fer  nor  be  happy  without  our  partaking  in  the  feelings." 

This  was  not  said  without  an  effort — that  much  I  could  de 
tect  ;  yet  it  was  said  firmly,  and  in  a  way  that  left  no  doubt  of 
its  entire  sincerity.  I  even  wished  there  had  been  less  of  nature 
and  more  of  hesitation  in  the  dear  girl's  manner  while  she  was 
endeavoring  to  assure  me  of  the  sympathy  she  felt  in  my  happi 
ness  or  unhappiness.  But  the  Avay  wardness  of  a  passion  as  tor 
menting,  and  yet  as  delightful  as  love,  seldom  leaves  us  just  or 
reasonable. 

Lucy  and  I  then  talked  of  the  approaching  ceremony.     Each 


136  MILES     AYALLINGFOKD. 

of  us  was  grave  and  sorrowful,  but  neither  indulged  in  any  out 
ward  signs  of  grief.  We  knew  the  last  sad  offices  were  to  be 
performed,  and  had  braced  ourselves  to  the  discharge  of  this 
melancholy  duty.  It  was  not  customary  with  the  females  of 
purely  New  York  families  of  the  class  of  the  Hardinges,  to  be 
present  at  the  performance  of  the  funeral  rites ;  but  Lucy  told 
me  she  intended  to  be  in  the  little  church,  and  to  share  in  as 
much  of  the  religious  offices  as  were  performed  within  the 
building.  In  a  population  as  mixed  as  ours  has  become,  it  is 
not  easy  to  say  what  is  and  what  is  not  now  a  national  or  state 
usage,  on  such  an  occasion ;  but  I  knew  this  was  going  farther 
than  was  usual  for  one  of  Lucy's  habits  and  opinions,  and  I  ex 
pressed  a  little  surprise  at  her  determination. 

"  Were  it  any  other  funeral,  I  would  not  be  present,  Miles," 
she  said,  the  tremor  of  her  voice  sensibly  increasing ;  "  but  I 
cannot  divest  myself  of  the  idea  that  the  spirit  of  Grace  will  be 
hovering  near ;  that  the  presence  of  her  more  than  sister  will  be 
acceptable.  Whatever  the  providence  of  God  may  have  ordered 
for  the  dear  departed,  I  know  it  will  be  grateful  to  myself  to  join 
in  the  prayers  of  the  church — besides,  I  am  not  altogether  Avith- 
out  the  womanly  feeling  of  wishing  to  watch  over  the  form  of 
Grace  while  it  remains  above  ground.  And  now,  Miles,  brother, 
friend,  Grace's  brother,  or  by  whatever  endearing  term  I  may  ad 
dress  you,"  added  Lucy,  rising,  coming  to  my  side  of  the  table, 
and  taking  my  hand,  "  I  have  one  thing  to  say  that  I  alone  can 
say,  for  it  would  never  suggest  itself  as  necessary  to  my  dear 
father." 

I  looked  'earnestly  at  Lucy's  sweet  countenance,  and  saw  it 
was  full  of  concern — I  had  almost  said  of  alarm. 

"  I  believe  I  understand  you,  Lucy,"  I  answered,  though  a 
sensation  at  the  throat  nearly  choked  me ;  "  Rupert  is  here  ?" 

"  He  is,  Miles ;  I  implore  you  to  remember  what  would  be 
the  Avishes  of  her  Avho  is  now  a  saint  in  heaven — Avhat  her  en 
treaties,  her  tears  Avould  implore  of  you,  had  not  God  placed 
a  barrier  betAveen  us." 

"I  understand  you,  Lucy,"  Avas  the  husky  reply;  "I  do  re- 


MILES      WALLINOFORD.  137 

member  all  you  wish,  though  that  recollection  is  unnecessary. 
I  would  rather  not  see  him ;  but  never  can  I  forget  that  he  13 
your  brother !" 

"  You  will  see  as  little  of  him  as  possible,  Miles — bless  you, 
bless  you,  for  this  forbearance !" 

I  felt  Lucy's  hasty  but  warm  kiss  on  my  forehead  as  she  quit 
ted  the  room.  It  seemed  to  me  a  seal  of  a  compact  between 
us  that  was  far  too  sacred  ever  to  allow  me  to  dream  of  vicla- 
ting  it. 

I  pass  over  the  details  of  the  funeral  procession.  This  last 
was  ordered  as  is  usual  in  the  country,  the  friends  following 
the  body  in  vehicles  or  on  horseback,  according  to  circum 
stances.  John  Wallingford  went  with  me  agreeably  to  my  own 
arrangement,  and  the  rest  took  their  places  in  the  order  of  con 
sanguinity  and  age.  I  did  not  see  Rupert  in  the  procession  at 
all,  though  I  saw  little  besides  the  hearse  that  bore  the  body  of 
my  only  sister.  When  we  reached  the  churchyard,  the  blacks 
of  the  family  pressed  forward  to  bear  the  coffin  into  the  build 
ing.  Mr.  Hardinge  met  us  there,  and  then  commenced  those 
beautiful  and  solemn  rites  which  seldom  fail  to  touch  the  hard 
est  heart.  The  rector  of  St.  Michael's  had  the  great  excellence 
of  reading  all  the  offices  of  the  church  as  if  he  felt  them ;  and, 
on  this  occasion,  the  deepest  feelings  of  the  heart  seemed  to  be 
thrbwn  into  his  accents.  I  wondered  how  he  could  get  on ; 
but  Mr.  Hardinge  felt  himself  a  servant  of  the  altar,  standing  in 
his  master's  house,  and  ready  to  submit  to  his  will.  Under 
such  circumstances,  it  was  not  a  trifle  that  could  unman  him. 
The  spirit  of  the  divine  communicated  itself  to  me.  I  did  not 
shed  a  tear  during  the  whole  of  the  ceremony,  but  felt  myself 
sustained  by  the  thoughts  and  holy  hopes  that  ceremony  was 
adapted  to  inspire.  I  believe  Lucy,  who  sat  in  a  far  corner  of 
the  church,  Avas  sustained  in  a  similar  manner ;  for  I  heard  her 
low  sweet  voice  mingling  in  the  responses.  Lip  service !  Let 
those  who  would  substitute  their  own  crude  impulses  for  the 
sublime  rites  of  our  liturgy,  making  ill-digested  forms  the  sup- 
planter  of  a  ritual  carefully  and  devoutly  prepared,  listen  to  one 


138  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

of  their  own  semi-conversational  addresses  to  the  Almighty 
over  a  grave,  and  then  hearken  to  these  venerable  rites,  and 
learn  humility.  Such  men  never  approach  sublimity,  or  the 
sacred  character  that  should  be  impressed  on  a  funeral  cere 
mony,  except  when  they  borrow  a  fragment  here  and  there 
from  the  very  ritual  they  affect  to  condemn.  In  their  eagerness 
to  dissent,  they  have  been  guilty  of  the  weakness  of  dissenting 
so  far  as  forms  are  concerned,  from  some  of  the  loftiest,  most 
comprehensive,  most  consolatory  and  most  instructive  passages 
of  the  inspired  book ! 

It  was  a  terrible  moment  when  the  first  clod  of  the  valley  fell 
on  my  sister's  coffin.  God  sustained  me  under  the  shock !  I 
neither  groaned  nor  wept.  "When  Mr.  Hardingc  returned  the 
customary  thanks  to  those  who  had  assembled  to  assist  me  "  in 
burying  my  dead  out  of  my  sight,"  I  had  even  sufficient  forti 
tude  to  bow  to  the  little  crowd,  and  to  walk  steadily  away.  It 
is  true  that  John  "VVallingford  very  kindly  took  my  arm  to 
sustain  me,  but  I  was  not  conscious  of  wanting  any  support.  I 
hoard  the  sobs  of  the  blacks  as  they  crowded  around  the  grave, 
which  the  men  among  them  insisted  on  filling  with  their  own 
hands,  as  if  "  Miss  Grace"  could  only  rest  with  their  administra 
tion  to  her  wants ;  and  I  was  told  not  one  of  them  left  the  spot 
until  the  place  had  resumed  all  the  appearance  of  freshness  and 
verdure  which  it  possessed  before  the  spade  had  been  applied. 
The  same  roses,  removed  with  care,  were  restored  to  their  for 
mer  beds ;  and  it  would  not  have  been  easy  for  a  stranger  to 
discover  that  a  new-made  grave  lay  by  the  side  of  those  of  the 
late  Captain  Miles  Walliugford  and  his  much-respected  widow. 
Still  it  was  known  to  all  in  that  vicinity,  and  many  a  pilgrimage 
was  made  to  the  spot  within  the  next  fortnight,  the  young 
maidens  of  the  adjoining  farms  in  particular  coming  to  visit 
the  grave  of  Grace  Wallingford,  the  "  Lily  of  Clawbonny,"  as 
she  had  once  been  styled. 


MILKS      W  ALLINOFOKD.  139 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  I  knew  that  we  must  part— no  power  could  save 
Thy  quiet  goodness  from  an  early  grave : 
Those  eyes  so  dull,  though  kind  each  glance  they  cast, 
Looking  a  sister's  fondness  to  the  last ; 
Thy  lips  so  pale,  that  gently  press 'd  my  cheek ; 
Thy  voice — alas !  thou  could'st  but  try  to  speak  ; — 
All  told  thy  doom ;  I  felt  it  at  my  heart ; 
The  shaft  had  struck — I  knew  that  we  must  part." 

SPKAGUE. 

Ir  is  not  easy  to  describe  the  sensation  of  loss  that  came  over 
me  after  the  interment  of  my  sister.  It  is  then  we  completely 
feel  the  privation  -with  which  we  have  met.  The  body  is  re 
moved  from  out  of  our  sight ;  the  places  that  knew  them  shall 
know  them  no  more ;  there  is  an  end  to  all  communion,  even 
by  the  agency  of  sight,  the  last  of  the  senses  to  lose  its  hold  on 
the  departed,  and  a  void  exists  in  the  place  once  occupied.  I 
felt  all  this  very  keenly,  for  more  than,  a  month,  but  most  keenly 
during  the  short  time  I  remained  at  Clawbonny.  The  task  be 
fore  me,  however,  will  not  allow  me  to  dwell  on  these  proofs  of 
sorrow,  nor  do  I  know  that  the  reader  could  derive  much  ad 
vantage  from  their  exhibition. 

I  did  not  see  Rupert  at  the  funeral.  That  he  was  there  I 
knew,  but  either  he,  himself,  or  Lucy  for  him,  had  managed  so 
well,  as  not  to  obtrude  his  person  on  my  sight.  John  Walling- 
ford,  who  well  knew  my  external  or  visible  relation  to  all  the  Har- 
dinges,  thinking  to  do  me  a  pleasure,  mentioned,  as  the  little 
procession  returned  to  the  house,  that  young  Mr.  Hardinge  had, 
by  dint  of  great  activity,  succeeded  in  reaching  Clawbonny  in 
time  for  the  funeral.  I  fancy  that  Lucy,  under  the  pretence  of 
Avishing  his  escort,  contrived  to  keep  her  brother  at  the  rectorj 
daring  the  time  I  was  abroad. 


140  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

On  reaching  the  house,  I  saw  all  my  connections,  and  thanked 
them  in  person  for  this  proof  of  their  respect  for  the  deceased. 
This  little  duty  performed,  all  but  John  Wallingford  took  their 
leave,  and  I  was  soon  left  in  the  place  alone  with  my  bachelor 
cousin.  What  a  house  it  was !  and  what  a  house  it  continued 
to  be  as  long  as  I  remained  at  Clawbonny !  The  servants  moved 
about  it  stealthily ;  the  merry  laugh  was  no  longer  heard  in  the 
kitchen ;  even  the  heavy-footed  seemed  to  tread  on  air,  and  all 
around  mo  appeared  to  be  afraid  of  disturbing  the  slumbers  of 
the  dead.  Never  before  nor  since  have  I  had  occasion  to  feel 
how  completely  a  negative  may  assume  an  affirmative  character, 
and  become  as  positive  as  if  it  had  a  real  existence.  I  thought 
I  could  see  as  Avell  as  feel  my  sister's  absence  from  the  scene  in 
which  she  had  once  been  so  conspicuous  an  actor. 

As  none  of  the  Hardinges  returned  to  dinner,  the  good  di 
vine  writing  a  note  to  say  he  would  see  me  in  the  evening 
after  my  connections  had  withdrawn,  John  Wallingford  and  my 
self  took  that  meal  tete-d-tete.  My  cousin,  with  the  apparent 
motive  of  diverting  my  thoughts  from  dwelling  on  the  recent 
scene,  began  to  converse  on  subjects  that  he  was  right  in  sup 
posing  might  interest  me.  Instead  of  flying  off  to  some  topic 
so  foreign  to  my  feelings  as  constantly  to  recall  the  reason,  he 
judiciously  connected  the  theme  with  my  loss. 

"  I  suppose  you  will  go  to  sea  again,  as  soon  as  your  ship 
can  be  got  ready,  cousin  Miles,"  he  commenced,  after  we  were 
left  with  the  fruit  and  wine.  "  These  are  stirring  tunes  in  com 
merce,  and  the  idle  man  misses  golden  opportunities." 

"  Gold  has  no  longer  any  charm  for  me,  cousin  John,"  I  an 
swered,  gloomily.  "  I  am  richer  now  than  is  necessary  for  my 
wants,  and,  as  I  shall  probably  never  marry,  I  see  no  great  use 
in  toiling  for  more.  Still,  I  shall  go  out  in  my  own  ship,  and 
that  as  soon  as  possible.  Here  I  would  not  pass  the  summer 
for  the  place,  and  I  love  the  sea.  Yes,  yes ;  I  must  make  a 
voyage  to  some  part  of  Europe  without  delay.  It  is  the  wisest 
thing  I  can  do." 

"  That  is  hearty,  and  like  a  man !     There  is  none  of  your 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  141 

mopes  about  the  Wallingfords,  and  I  believe  you  to  bo  of  the 
true  stock.  But  why  never  marry,  Miles  ?  Your  father  was  a 
sailor,  and  he  married,  and  a  very  good  time  I've  always  under 
stood  he  had  of  it." 

"  My  father  was  happy  as  a  husband,  and  did  I  imitate  his 
example,  I  should  certainly  marry,  too.  Nevertheless,  I  feel  I 
am  to  be  a  bachelor." 

"  In  that  case,  what  will  become  of  Clawbonny  ?"  demanded 
Jack  Wallingford,  bluntly. 

I  could  not  avoid  smiling  at  the  question,  as  I  deemed  him 
my  heir,  though  the  law  would  give  it%)  nearer  relatives,  who 
were  not  of  the  name ;  but  it  is  probable  that  John,  knowing 
himself  to  be  so  much  my  senior,  had  never  thought  of  himself 
as  one  likely  to  outlive  me. 

"  I  shall  make  a  new  will  the  instant  I  get  to  town,  and  leave 
Clawbonny  to  you,"  I  answered  steadily  and  truly,  for  such  a 
thought  had  come  into  my  mind  the  instant  I  saw  him.  "  You 
are  the  person  best  entitled  to  inherit  it,  and  should  you  survive 
me,  yours  it  shall  be." 

"  Miles,  I  like  that,"  exclaimed  my  cousin,  with  a  strange  sin 
cerity,  stretching  out  a  hand  to  receive  mine,  which  he  pressed 
most  warmly.  "  You  are  very  right ;  I  ought  to  be  the  heir  of 
this  place,  should  you  die  without  children,  even  though  you 
left  a  widow." 

This  was  said  so  naturally,  and  was  so  much  in  conformity 
with  my  own  notions  on  the  subject,  that  it  did  not  so  much 
offend  as  surprise  me.  I  knew  John  Wallingford  loved  money, 
and,  all  men  having  a  very  respectful  attachment  to  the  repre 
sentative  of  value,  such  a  character  invariably  means  that  the 
party  named  suffers  that  attachment  to  carry  him  too  far.  I 
wished,  therefore,  my  kinsman  had  not  made  just  such  a  speech ; 
though  it  in  no  manner  shook  my  intentions  in  his  favor. 

"  You  are  more  ready  to  advise  your  Mends  to  get  married, 
than  to  set  the  example,"  I  answered,  willing  to  divert  the  dis 
course  a  little.  "  You,  who  must  be  turned  of  fifty,  are  still  a 
bachelor." 


142  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  And  so  shall  I  remain  through  life.  There  was  a  time  I 
might  have  married,  had  I  been  rich ;  and  now  I  am  reasonably 
rich,  I  find  other  things  to  employ  my  affections.  Still  that  is 
no  reason  you  should  not  leave  me  Clawbonny,  though  it  is  not 
probable  I  shall  ever  live  to  inherit  it.  Notwithstanding,  it  is 
family  property,  and  ought  not  to  go  out  of  the  name.  I 
was  afraid,  if  you  were  lost  at  sea,  or  should  die  of  any  of 
those  outlandish  fevers  that  sailors  sometimes  take,  the  place 
would  get  into  females,  and  there  would  no  longer  be  a  Walling- 
ford  at  Clawbonny.  Miles,  I  do  not  grudge  you  the  possession 
of  the  property  the  leaR  in  the  world  ;  but  it  would  make  me 
very  unhappy  to  know  one  of  those  Hazens,  or  Morgans,  or 
Van-der-Schamps  had  it."  Jack  had  mentioned  the  names  of 
the  children  of  so  many  Miss  Wallingfords,  aunts  or  great-aunts 
of  mine,  and  cousins  of  his  own.  "  Some  of  them  may  be  nearer 
to  you  by  a  half  degree  or  so,  but  none  of  them  are  as  near  to 
Clawbonny.  It  is  Wallingford  land,  and  Wallingford  land  it 
ought  to  remain." 

I  was  amused  in  spite  of  myself,  and  felt  a.  disposition  now 
to  push  the  discourse  farther,  in  order  better  to  understand  my 
kinsman's  character. 

"  Should  neither  of  us  two  marry,"  I  said,  "  and  both  die 
bachelors,  what  would  then  be  the  fate  of  Clawbonny  ?" 

"  I  have  thought  of  all  that,  Miles,  and  here  is  my  answer. 
Should  such  a  thing  happen,  and  there  be  no  other  Wallingford 
left,  then  no  Wallingford  would  live  to  have  his  feelings  hurt 
by  knowing  that  a  Vander-dunder-Schamp,  or  whatever  these 
Dutchmen  ought  to  be  called,  is  living  in  his  father's  house,  and 
no  harm  would  be  done.  But  there  are  Wallingfords  besides 
you  and  me." 

"  This  is  quite  new ;  for  I  had  supposed  we  two  were  the 
last." 

"  Not  so.  Miles  the  First  left  two  sons ;  our  ancestor,  the 
eldest,  and  one  younger,  who  removed  into  the  colony  of  New 
Jersey,  and  whose  descendants  still  exist.  The  survivors  of  us 
two  might  go  there  in  quest  of  our  heir  in  the  long  run.  But 


MILES     -WALLINGFORD.  143 

do  not  forget  I  come  before  these  Jersey  Blues,  let  them  be  wh( 
or  what  they  may." 

I  assured  my  kinsman  he  should  corne  tefore  them,  and 
changed  the  discourse,  for,  to  own  the  truth,  the  manner  in 
which  he  spoke  began  to  displease  me.  Making  my  apologies, 
I  retired  to  my  own  room,  while  John  Wallingford  went  out, 
professedly  with  the  intention  of  riding  over  the  place  of  hig 
ancestors,  with  a  view  to  give  it  a  more  critical  examination 
than  it  had  hitherto  been  in  his  power  to  do. 

It  was  quite  dark  when  I  heard  the  arrival  of  the  Hardinges, 
as  the  carriage  of  Lucy  drove  up  to  the  door.  In  a  few  min 
utes  Mr.  Hardinge  entered  the  study.  He  first  inquired  after 
my  health,  and  manifested  the  kind  interest  he  had  ever  taken 
in  my  feelings,  after  which  he  proceeded  : 

"  Rupert  is  here,"  he  said,  "  and  I  have  brought  him  over  to 
see  you.  Both  he  and  Lucy  appeared  to  think  it  might  be  well 
not  to  disturb  you  to-night,  but  I  knew  you  better.  Who  should 
be  at  your  side  at  this  bitter  moment,  my  dear  Miles,  if  it  be 
not  Rupert,  your  old  friend  and  playmate ;  your  fellow-truant, 
as  one  might  say,  and  almost  your  brother  ?" 

Almost  my  brother !  Still  I  commanded  myself.  Grace  had 
received  my  solemn  assurances,  and  so  had  Lucy,  and  Rupert 
had  nothing  to  apprehend.  I  even  asked  to  see  him,  desiring, 
at  the  same  time,  that  it  might  be  alone.  I  waited  several  min 
utes  for  Rupert's  appearance,  in  vain.  At  length  the  door  of 
my  room  opened,  and  Chloe  brought  me  a  note.  It  was  from 
Lucy,  and  contained  only  these  words — "  Miles,  for  her  sake, 
for  mine,  command  yourself."  Dear  creature!  She  had  no 
reason  to  be  alarmed.  The  spirit  of  my  sister  seemed  to  me  to 
be  present,  and  I  could  recall  every  expression  of  her  angel- 
countenance  as  it  had  passed  before  my  eyes  in  the  different  in 
terviews  that  preceded  her  death. 

At  length  Rupert  appeared.  He  had  been  detained  by  Lucy 
until  certain  her  note  was  received,  when  she  permitted  him 
to  quit  her  side.  His  manner  was  full  of  the  consciousness 
of  undeserving,  and  its  humility  aided  my  good  resolutions. 


144  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

Had  lie  advanced  to  take  my  band ;  had  he  attempted  consola 
tion;  had  he,  in  short,  behaved  differently  in  the  main  from 
what  he  actually  did,  I  cannot  say  what  might  have  been  the 
consequences.  But  his  deportment,  at  first,  was  quiet,  respect 
ful,  distant  rather  than  familiar,  and  he  had  the  tact,  or  grace, 
or  caution,  not  to  make  the  smallest  allusion  to  the  sad  occasion 
which  had  brought  him  to  Clawbonny.  When  I  asked  him  to 
be  seated  he  declined  the  chair  I  offered,  a  sign  he  intended  the 
visit  to  be  short.  I  was  not  sorry,  and  determined,  at  once,  to 
make  the  interview  as  much  one  of  business  as  possible.  I  had 
a  sacred  duty  confided  to  me,  and  this  might  be  as  fit  an  occa 
sion  as  could  offer  in  which  to  acquit  myself  of  the  trust. 

"  I  am  glad  so  early  an  opportunity  has  offered,  Mr.  Ilar- 
dinge,"  I  said,  as  soon  as  the  opening  civilities  were  over,  "  to 
acquaint  you  with  an  affair  that  has  been  entrusted  to  me  by 
Grace,  and  which  I  am  anxious  to  dispose  of  as  soon  as  possible." 

"  By  Grace — by  Miss  Wallingford  !"  exclaimed  Rupert,  act 
ually  recoiling  a  step  in  surprise,  if  not  absolutely  in  alarm — 
"  I  shall  feel  honored — that  is,  shall  have  a  melancholy  gratifica 
tion  in  endeavoring  to  execute  any  of  her  wishes.  No  person 
commanded  more  of  my  respect,  Mr.  Wallingford,  and  I  shall 
always  consider  her  one  of  tho  most  amiable  and  admirable 
women  with  whom  it  was  ever  my  happy  fortune  to  be  ac 
quainted." 

I  had  no  difficulty  now  in  commanding  myself,  for  it  was 
easy  to  see  Rupert  scarce  knew  what  he  said.  With  such  a 
man  I  saw  no  great  necessity  for  using  extraordinary  delicacy  or 
much  reserve. 

"  You  are  doubtless  aware  of  two  things  in  our  family  his 
tory,"  I  continued,  therefore,  without  circumlocution ;  "  one 
that  my  sister  would  have  been  mistress  of  a  small  fortune,  had 
ehe  reached  the  term  of  twenty-one  years,  and  the  other  that 
she  died  at  twenty." 

Rupert's  surprise  was  now  more  natural,  and  I  could  sec 
that  his  interest — shame  on  our  propensities  for  it ! — was  very 
natural,  too. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  145 

"  I  am  aware  of  both,  and  deeply  deplore  the  last,"  he  an 
swered. 

"  Being  a  minor,  she  had  it  not  in  her  'power  to  make  a  will, 
but  her  requests  are  legal  legacies  in  my  eyes,  and  I  stand 
pledged  to  her  to  see  them  executed.  She  has  left  rather  less 
than  $22,000  in  all;  with  $500  of  this  money  I  am  to  present 
Lucy  with  some  suitable  memorial  of  her  departed  friend  ;  some 
small  charitable  dispositions  are  also  to  be  made,  and  the  bal 
ance,  or  the  round  sum  of  $20,000,  is  to  be  given  to  you." 

"  To  me,  Mr.  Wallingford ! — Miles ! — Did  you  really  say  to 
me?" 

"  To  you,  Mr.  Ilardinge — such  is  my  sister's  earnest  request 
• — and  this  letter  will  declare  it,  as  from  herself.  I  was  to  hand 
you  this  letter,  when  acquainting  you  with  the  bequest."  I 
put  Grace's  letter  into  Kupert's  hand,  as  I  concluded,  and  I  sat 
down  to  write,  while  he  was  reading  it.  Though  employed  at  a 
desk  for  a  minute  or  two,  I  could  not  avoid  glancing  at  Rupert, 
in  order  to  ascertain  the  effect  of  the  last  words  of  her  he  had 
once  professed  to  love.  I  would  wish  not  to  be  unjust  even  to 
Rupert  Hardinge.  He  was  dreadfully  agitated,  and  he  walked 
the  room,  for  some  little  time,  without  speaking.  I  even  fancied 
I  overheard  a  half-suppressed  groan.  I  had  the  compassion  to 
affect  to  be  engaged,  in  order  to  allow  him  to  recover  his  self- 
possession.  This  was  soon  done,  as  good  impressions  were  not 
lasting  in  Rupert ;  and  I  knew  him  so  well,  as  soon  to  read  in 
his  countenance,  gloamings  of  satisfaction  at  the  prospect  of  be 
ing  master  of  so  large  a  sum.  At  the  proper  moment,  I  arose 
and  resumed  the  subject. 

"  My  sister's  wishes  would  be  sacred  with  me,"  I  said,  "  even 
had  she  not  received  my  promise  to  see  them  executed.  When 
a  thing  of  this  character  is  to  be  done,  the  sooner  it  is  done  the 
better.  I  have  drawn  a  note  at  ten  days,  payable  at  the  Bank 
of  New  York,  and  in  your  favor,  for  $20,000  ;  it  will  not 
inconvenience  me  to  pay  it  when  due,  and  that  will  close  the 
transaction." 

"I  am  not  certain,  Wallingford,  that  I  ought  to  receive  so 
V 


146  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

large  a  sum — I  do  not  know  that  my  father,  or  Lucy,  or  indeed 
the  world,  would  altogether  approve  of  it." 

"  Neither  your  father,  nor  Lucy,  nor  the  world  will  know  any 
thing  about  it,  sir,  unless  you  see  fit  to  acquaint  them.  I  shall 
not  speak  of  the  bequest ;  and  I  confess  that,  on  my  sister's  ac 
count,  I  should  prefer  that  you  would  not." 

"Well,  Mr.  Wallingford,"  answered  Rupert,  coolly  putting 
the  note  into  his  wallet,  "  I  will  think  of  this  request  of  poor 
Grace's,  and  if  I  can  possibly  comply  with  her  wishes,  I  will 
certainly  do  so.  There  is  little  that  she  could  ask  that  I  would 
deny,  and  my  effort  will  be  to  honor  her  memory.  As  I  see  you 
are  distressed,  I  will  now  retire ;  you  shall  know  my  determina 
tion  in  a  few  days." 

Rupert  did  retire,  taking  my  note  for  $20,000  with  him.  I 
made  no  effort  to  detain  him,  nor  was  I  sorry  to  hear  he  had 
returned  to  the  rectory  to  pass  the  night,  whither  his  sister  went 
with  him.  The  next  day  he  proceeded  to  New  York,  without 
sending  me  any  message,  retaining  the  note,  however ;  and  a  day 
or  two  later  I  heard  of  him  on  his  way  to  the  Springs  to  rejoin 
the  party  of  the  Mertons. 

John  Wallingford  left  me  the  morning  of  the  day  after  the 
funeral,  promising  to  see  me  again  in  town.  "  Do  not  forget 
the  will,  Miles,"  said  that  singular  man,  as  he  shook  my  hand, 
"  and  be  certain  to  let  me  see  that  provision  in  it  about  Claw- 
bonny,  before  I  go  west  of  the  bridge  again.  Between  relations 
of  the  same  name  there  should  be  no  reserves  in  such  matters." 

I  scarce  knew  whether  to  smile  or  look  grave  at  so  strange 
a  request,  but  I  did  not  change  my  determination  on  the  subject 
of  the  will  itself,  feeling  that  justice  required  of  me  such  a  dis 
position  of  the  property.  I  confess  there  were  moments  when 
I  distrusted  the  character  of  one  who  could  urge  a  claim  of  this 
nature  in  so  plain  a  manner,  and  that,  too,  at  an  instant  when 
the  contemplated  contingency  seemed  the  more  probable  from 
the  circumstance  that  death  had  so  recently  been  among  us. 
Notwithstanding,  there  was  so  much  frankness  in  my  kinsman's 
manner,  he  appeared  to  sympathize  so  sincerely  in  my  loss,  and 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  147 

his  opinions  were  so  similar  to  my  own,  that  these  unpleasant 
twinges  lasted  but  for  brief  intervals.  On  the  whole,  my  opinion 
was  very  favorable  to  John  AVallingford,  and,  as  will  be  seen  in 
the  sequel,  he  soon  obtained  my  entire  confidence. 

After  the  departure  of  all  my  kindred  I  felt,  indeed,  how 
completely  I  was  left  alone  in  the  world.  Lucy  passed  the 
night  at  the  rectory,  to  keep  her  brother  company,  and  good 
Mr.  Ilardinge,  though  thinking  he  remained  with  me  to  offer 
sympathy  and  consolation,  found  so  many  demands  on  his  time, 
that  I  saw  but  little  of  him.  It  is  possible  he  understood  me 
sufficiently  well  to  know  that  solitude  and  reflection,  while  the 
appearance  of  the  first  was  avoided,  were  better  for  one  of  my 
temperament  than  any  set  forms  of  condolence.  At  any  rate, 
he  was  at  hand,  while  he  said  but  little  to  me  on  the  subject  of 
my  loss. 

At  last  I  got  through  the  day,  and  a  long  and  dreary  day  it 
was  to  me.  The  evening  came,  bland,  refreshing,  bringing  with 
it  the  softer  light  of  a  young  moon.  I  was  walking  on  the  lawn, 
when  the  beauty  of  the  night  brought  Grace  and  her  tastes  viv 
idly  to  my  mind,  and,  by  a  sudden  impulse,  I  was  soon  swiftly 
walking  toward  her  now  silent  grave.  The  highways  around 
Clawbonny  were  never  much  frequented,  but  at  this  hour,  and  so 
soon  after  the  solemn  procession  it  had  so  lately  seen,  no  one 
was  met  on  the  road  toward  the  churchyard.  It  was  months,  in 
deed,  after  the  funeral,  that  any  of  the  slaves  ventured  into  the 
latter  by  night ;  and  even  during  the  day  they  approached  it 
with  an  awe  that  nothing  could  have  inspired  but  the  death  of 
a  Wallingford.  Perhaps  it  was  owing  to  my  increased  age  and 
greater  observation,  but  I  fancied  that  these  simple  beings  felt 
the  death  of  their  young  mistress  more  than  they  had  felt  that 
of  my  mother. 

St.  Michael's  churchyard  is  beautifully  ornamented  with  flour 
ishing  cedars.  These  trees  had  been  cultivated  with  care,  and 
formed  an  appropriate  ornament  for  the  place.  A  fine  cluster 
of  them  shaded  the  graves  of  my  family,  and  a  rustic  seat  had 
been  placed  beneath  their  branches,  by  order  of  my  mother, 


148  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

who  had  been  in  the  habit  of  passing  hours  in  meditation  at 
the  grave  of  her  husband.  Grace  and  I,  and  Lucy,  had  often 
repaired  to  the  same  place  at  night,  after  my  mother's  death, 
and  there  we  used  to  sit  many  an  hour  in  deep  silence,  or  if  ut 
terance  was  given  to  a  thought,  it  was  in  a  respectful  whisper. 
As  I  now  approached  this  seat,  I  had  a  bitter  satisfaction  in  re 
membering  that  Rupert  had  never  accompanied  us  in  these  pi 
ous  little  pilgrimages.  Even  in  the  day  of  her  greatest  ascend 
ency,  Grace  had  been  unable  to  enlist  her  admirer  in  an  act  so 
repugnant  to  his  innate  character.  As  for  Lucy,  her  own  fam 
ily  lay  on  one  side  of  that  cluster  of  cedars,  as  mine  lay  on  the 
other,  and  often  had  I  seen  the  dear  young  creature  weeping,  as 
her  eyes  were  riveted  on  the  graves  of  relatives  she  had  never 
known.  But  my  mother  had  been  her  mother,  and  for  this 
friend  she  felt  an  attachment  almost  as  strong  as  that  which 
was  entertained  by  ourselves.  I  am  not  certain  I  ought  not  to 
say  an  attachment  quite  as  strong  as  our  own. 

I  was  apprehensive  some  visitors  might  be  hovering  near  the 
grave  of  my  sister  at  that  witching  hour,  and  I  approached  the 
cedars  cautiously,  intending  to  retire  unseen  should  such  prove 
to  be  the  case.  I  saw  no  one,  however,  and  proceeded  directly 
to  the  line  of  graves,  placing  myself  at  the  foot  of  the  freshest 
and  most  newly  made.  Hardly  was  this  done,  when  I  heard 
the  word  "  Miles !"  uttered  in  a  low,  half-stifled  exclamation.  It 
was  not  easy  for  me  to  mistake  the  voice  of  Lucy ;  she  was  seat 
ed  so  near  the  trunk  of  a  cedar  that  her  dark  dress  had  been 
confounded  with  the  shadows  of  the  tree.  I  went  to  the  spot, 
and  took  a  seat  at  her  side. 

"  I  am  not  surprised  to  find  you  here,"  I  said,  taking  the  dear 
girl's  hand,  by  a  sort  of  mechanical  mode  of  manifesting  affec 
tion  which  had  grown  up  between  us  from  childhood,  rather 
than  from  any  sudden  impulse — "  you  that  watched  over  her  so 
faithfully  during  the  last  hours  of  her  existence." 

"  Ah !  Miles,"  returned  a  voice  that  wyas  filled  with  sadness, 
"  how  little  did  I  anticipate  this  when  you  spoke  of  Grace  in 
the  brief  interview  we  had  at  the  theatre  !" 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  149 

I  understood  my  companion  fully.  Lucy  had  "been  educated 
superior  to  cant  and  false  morals.  Her  father  drew  accurate 
and  manly  distinctions  between  sin  and  the  exactions  of  a  puri 
tanical  presumption  that  would  set  up  its  own  narrow  notions 
as  the  law  of  God ;  and,  innocent  as  she  was,  no  thought  of 
error  was  associated  with  the  indulgence  of  her  innocent  pleas 
ures.  But  Grace,  suffering  and  in  sorrow,  while  she  herself  had 
been  listening  to  the  wonderful  poems  of  Shakspeare,  did  pre 
sent  a  painful  picture  to  her  mind,  which,  so  far  from  being 
satisfied  with  what  she  had  done  in  my  sister's  behalf,  was  ten 
derly  reproachful  on  account  of  fancied  omissions. 

"  It  is  the  will  of  God,  Lucy,"  I  answered.  "  It  must  be  our 
effort  to  be  resigned." 

"  If  you  can  think  thus,  Miles,  how  much  easier  ought  it  to 
be  for  me  !  and,  yet" — 

"  Yet,  what,  Lucy  ?  I  believe  you  loved  my  sister  as  affec 
tionately  as  I  did  myself,  but  I  am  sensitive  on  this  point ;  and, 
tender,  true,  warm  as  I  know  your  heart  to  be,  I  cannot  allow 
that  even  ,you  loved  her  more." 

"  It  is  not  that,  Miles — it  is  not  that.  Have  I  no  cause  of 
{(articular  regret — no  sense  of  shame — no  feeling  of  deep  humil 
ity  to  add  to  my  grief  for  her  loss  ?"j 

"  I  understand  you,  Lucy,  and  at  once  answer,  no.  You  arc 
not  Rupert  any  more  than  Rupert  is  you.  Let  all  others  be 
come  what  they  may,  you  will  ever  remain  Lucy  Hardinge." 

"  I  thank  you,  Miles,"  answered  my  companion,  gently  press 
ing  the  hand  that  still  retained  hers,  "  and  thank  you  from  my 
heart.  But  your  generous  nature  Avill  not  see  this  matter  as 
others  might.  We  were  aliens  to  your  blood,  dwellers  under 
your  own  roof,  and  were  bound  by  every  sacred  obligation  to 
do  you  no  wrong.  I  would  not  have  my  dear,  upright  father 
know  the  truth  for  worlds." 

"  He  never  will  know  it,  Lucy,  and  it  is  my  earnest  desire 
that  we  all  forget  it.  Henceforth  Rupert  and  I  must  be  stran 
gers,  though  the  tie  that  exists  between  me  and  the  rest  of 
your  family  will  only  be  drawn  the  closer  for  this  sad  event." 


150  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  Rupert  is  ray  brother,"  Lucy  answered,  thougli  it  was  in  a 
voice  so  low  that  her  words  were  barely  audible. 

"  You  would  not  leave  me  quite  alone  in  the  world !"  I  said, 
with  something  like  reproachful  energy. 

"  No,  Miles,  no — that  tie,  as  you  have  said,  must  and  should 
last  for  life.  Nor  do  I  wish  you  to  regard  Rupert  as  of  old.  It  is 
impossible — improper  even — but  you  can  concede  to  us  some  of 
that  same  indulgence  which  I  am  so  willing  to  concede  to  you." 

"  Certainly — Rupert  is  your  brother,  as  you  say,  and  I  do  not 
wish  you  ever  to  regard  him  otherwise.  He  will  marry  Emily 
Morton,  and  I  trust  he  may  be  happy.  Here,  over  my  sister's 
grave,  Lucy,  I  renew  the  pledge  already  made  to  yon,  never  to 
act  on  what  has  occurred." 

I  got  no  answer  to  this  declaration  in  Avords,  but  Lucy  would 
actually  have  kissed  my  hand  in  gratitude  had  I  permitted  it. 
This  I  could  not  suffer,  however,  but  raised  her  own  hand  to 
my  lips,  where  it  was  held  until  the  dear  girl  gently  withdrew 
it  herself. 

"  Miles,"  Lucy  said,  after  a  long  and  thoughtful  pause,  "  it 
is  not  good  for  you  to  remain  at  Clawbonny,  just  at  this  time. 
Your  kinsman,  John  Wallingford,  has  been  here,  and  I  think 
you  like  him.  Why  not  pay  him  a  visit  ?  He  resides  near 
Niagara,  '  West  of  the  Bridge,'  as  he  calls  it,*  and  you  might 
take  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the  '  Falls.'  " 

"  I  understand  you,  Lucy,  and  am  truly  grateful  for  the  inter 
est  you  feel  in  my  happiness.  I  do  Hot  intend  to  remain  long 
at  Clawbonny,  which  I  shall  leave  to-morrow" — 

"To-morrow!"  interrupted  Lucy,  and  I  thought  like  one  that 
was  alarmed. 

"  Does  that  appear  too  early  ?     I  feel  the  necessity  of  occupa* 

*  In  the  western  part  of  the  state  of  New  York,  there  arc  several  small  lakes  tbnt  lie 
nearly  parallel  to  each  other,  and  not  far  asunder,  with  lengths  that  vary  from  fifteen 
to  forty  miles.  The  outlet  of  one  of  these  lakes — the  Cayuga — lies  in  the  route  of  tho 
great  thoroughfare  to  Buffalo,  and  a  bridge  of  a  mile  in  length  was  early  thrown  across 
it  From  this  circumstance  has  arisen  the  expression  of  saying,  "  "West  cf  the  Bridge ;" 
meaning  the  frontier  counties,  which  include,  among  other  districts,  that  which  is  alac 
known  as  tho  "  Gcnessec  Country." 


MILES      W  AL  L  I  N  G  FO  RD.  151 

lion,  as  well  as  of  a  change  of  scene.  You  will  remember  I 
have  a  ship,  and  interests  of  moment  to  myself,  to  care  for :  I 
must  turn  my  face,  and  move  toward  the  east,  instead  of  toward 
the  west." 

"  You  intend  then,  Miles,  to  pursue  this  profession  of  yours !" 
Lucy  said,  as  I  thought,  with  a  little  like  gentle  regret  in  her 
manner  and  tones. 

"  Certainly — what  better  can  I  do  ?  I  want  not  Avealth,  I 
allow  ;  am  rich  enough  already  for  all  my  wants,  but  I  have  need 
of  occupation.*  The  sea  is  to  my  liking,  I  am  still  young,  and 
can  afford  a  few  more  years  on  the  water.  I  shall  never  marry" 
— Lucy  started — "  and  having  now  no  heir  nearer  than  John 
Wallingford"— 

"  John  Wallingford !  you  have  cousins  much  nearer  than  he !" 

"  That  is  true ;  but  not  of  the  old  line.  It  was  Grace's  wish 
that  I  should  leave  our  cousin  John  the  Clawbonny  property  at 
least,  whatever  I  do  with  the  rest.  You  are  so  rich  now  as  not 
to  need  it,  Lucy ;  else  would  I  leave  every  shilling  to  you." 

"  I  believe  you  would,  dear  Miles,"  answered  Lucy,  with  fer 
vent  warmth  of  manner.  "  You  have  ever  been  all  that  is  good 
and  kind  to  me,  and  I  shall  never  forget  it." 

"  Talk  of  my  kindness  to  you,  Lucy,  when  you  parted  with 
every  cent  you  had  on  earth  to  give  me  the  gold  you  possessed, 
on  my  going  to  sea.  I  am  almost  sorry  you  are  now  so  much 
richer  than  myself,  else  would  I  certainly  make  you  iny  heir." 

"  We  will  not  talk  of  money  any  longer  in  this  sacred  place," 
Lucy  answered  tremulously.  "  What  I  did  as  a  foolish  girl  you 
will  forget ;  we  were  but  children  then,  Miles." 

So  Lucy  did  not  wish  me  to  remember  certain  passages  iu 
our  earlier  youth  !  Doubtless  her  present  relations  to  Andrew 
Drewett  rendered  the  recollection  delicate,  if  not  unpleasant.  I 
thought  this  less  like  herself  than  was  her  wont — Lucy,  who 
was  usually  so  simple-minded,  so  affectionate,  so  frank,  and  so 
true.  Nevertheless,  love  is  an  engrossing  sentiment,  as  I  could 
feel  in  my  own  case,  and  it  might  be  that  its  jealous  sensitive 
ness  took  the  alarm  at  even  that  which  was  so  innocent  and 


152  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

sincere.  The  effect  of  these  considerations,  added  to  that  of 
Lucy's  remark,  was  to  change  the  discourse,  and  we  conversed 
long,  in  melancholy  sadness,  of  lier  we  had  lost,  for  this  life, 
altogether. 

"  We  may  live,  ourselves,  to  grow  old,  Miles,"  Lucy  observed, 
"  but  never  shall  we  cease  to  remember  Grace  as  she  was,  and 
tc  love  her  memory  as  we  loved  her  dear  self  in  life.  There 
Las  not  been  an  hour  since  her  death  that  I  have  not  seen  her 
sitting  at  my  side,  and  conversing  in  sisterly  confidence,  as  we 
did  from  infancy  to  the  day  she  ceased  to  live !" 

As  Lucy  said  this,  she  rose,  drew  her  shawl  around  her,  and 
held  out  her  hand  to  take  leave,  for  I  had  spoken  of  an  inten 
tion  to  quit  Clawbonny  early  in  the  morning.  The  tears  the 
dear  girl  shed  might  have  been  altogether  owing  to  our  previous 
conversation,  or  I  might  have  had  a  share  in  producing  them. 
Lucy  used  to  weep  at  parting  from  me,  as  well  as  Grace,  and 
she  was  not  a  girl  to  change  with  the  winds.  But  I  could  not 
part  thus ;  I  had  a  sort  of  feeling  that  when  we  parted  this  time, 
it  would  virtually  be  a  final  separation,  as  the  Avife  of  Andrew 
Drcwett  never  could  be  exactly  that  which  Lucy  Ilardinge  had 
now  been  to  me  for  near  twenty  years. 

"  I  will  not  say  farewell  now,  Lucy,"  I  observed.  "  Should 
you  not  come  to  town  before  I  sail,  I  will  return  to  Clawbonny 
to  take  leave  of  you.  God  only  knows  what  will  become  of  me, 
or  whither  I  shall  be  led,  and  I  could  wish  to  defer  the  leave- 
takings  to  the  last  moment.  You  and  your  excellent  father 
must  have  my  final  adieus." 

Lucy  returned  the  pressure  of  my  hand,  uttered  a  hasty  good 
night,  and  glided  through  the  little  gate  of  the  rectory  which 
by  this  time  we  had  reached.  No  doubt  she  fancied  I  returned 
immediately  to  my  own  house.  So  far  from  this,  however,  I 
passed  hours  alone,  in  the  churchyard,  sometimes  musing  on 
the  dead,  and  then  with  all  my  thoughts  bent  on  the  living.  I 
could  see  the  light  in  Lucy's  window,  and  not  till  that  was  ex 
tinguished  did  I  retire.  It  was  long  past  midnight. 

I  passed  hours  teeming  with  strange  emotions  among  those 


MILES      WALLINGFORD. 


153 


cedars.  Twice  I  knelt  by  Grace's  grave,  and  prayed  devoutly 
to  God.  It  seemed  to  me  that  petitions  offered  in  such  a  place 
must  be  blessed.  I  thought  of  my  mother,  of  my  manly,  spir 
ited  father,  of  Grace,  and  of  all  the  past.  Then  I  lingered  long 
beneath  Lucy's  window,  and,  in  spite  of  this  solemn  visit  to  the 
graves  of  the  dead,  the  brightest  and  most  vivil  imago  that  I 
carried  away  with  me  was  of  the  living. 


154  MILES      WALLINGFORD 


CHAPTER  X. 

n8hy.  Three  thousand  ducats— well. 
Bass.  Ay,  sir,  for  three  months. 
Sfiy.  For  three  months — well. 

Ba«s.  For  the  which,  as  I  told  yon,  Antonio  shall  become  bound. 
Shy.  Antonio  shall  become  bound — well." 

MERCHANT  OF  VENICE. 


I  FOUND  John  Wallingford  in  town,  awaiting  my  appearance. 
He  had  taken  lodgings  at  the  City  Hotel,  on  purpose  to  be  un 
der  the  same  roof  with  me,  and  we  occupied  adjoining  rooms. 
I  dined  with  him ;  and  after  dinner  he  went  with  me  to  take  a 
look  at  the  Dawn.  The  second  mate  told  me  that  Marble  had 
made  a  flying  visit  to  the  ship,  promised  to  be  back  again  in  a 
few  days,  and  disappeared.  .  By  comparing  dates,  I  ascertained 
that  he  would  be  in  time  to  meet  the  mortgage  sale,  and  felt  no 
further  concern  in  that  behalf. 

"  Miles,"  said  John  Wallingford,  coolly,  as  we  were  walking 
up  Pine  street,  on  our  way  back  toward  the  tavern,  "  did  you 
not  tell  me  you  employed  Richard  Harrison  as  a  legal  adviser  ?" 

"  I  did.  Mr.  Hardinge  made  me  acquainted  with  him,  and  I 
understand  he  is  one  of  the  oldest  lawyers  in  the  country.  That 
is  his  office,  on  the  other  side  of  the  street — here,  directly  oppo 
site." 

"  I  saw  it,  and  that  was  the  reason  I  spoke.  It  might  be  well 
just  to  step  in  and  give  some  directions  about  your  will.  I  wish 
to  see  Clawbonny  put  in  the  right  line.  If  you  would  give  me 
a  deed  of  it  for  one  dollar,  I  would  not  take  it  from  you,  the 
only  son  of  an  eldest  son ;  but  it  would  break  my  heart  to  hear 
of  its  going  out  of  the  name.  Mr.  Harrison  is  also  an  old  ad 
viser  and  friend  of  mine." 


MILES      WALLINGFOKD.  155 

I  was  startled  with  this  plain-dealing ;  yet,  there  was  some 
thing  about  the  manner  of  the  man  that  prevented  my  being 
displeased. 

"  Mr.  Harrison  would  not  be  visible  at  this  hour,  but  I  will 
cross  to  the  office,  and  write  him  a  letter  on  the  subject,"  I  an 
swered,  doing  as  I  said  on  the  instant,  and  leaving  John  Wal- 
lingford  to  pursue  his  way  to  the  house  alone.  The  next  day, 
however,  the  will  was  actually  drawn  up,  executed,  and  placed 
in  my  cousin's  hands,  he  being  the  sole  executor.  If  the  reader 
should  ask  me  why  I  did  this,  especially  the  last,  I  might  be  at 
a  loss  to  answer.  A  strange  confidence  had  come  over  me,  as 
respects  this  relative,  whose  extraordinary  frankness  even  a  more 
experienced  man  might  have  believed  to  be  either  the  height  of 
honesty,  or  the  perfection  of  art.  Whichever  was  the  case,  I  not 
only  left  my  will  with  him,  but,  in  the  course  of  the  next  week, 
I  let  him  into  the  secret  of  all  my  pecuniary  affairs ;  Grace's  be 
quest  to  Rupert,  alone,  excepted.  John  Wallingford  encouraged 
this  confidence,  telling  me  that  plunging  at  once,  heart  and  hand, 
into  the  midst  of  business,  was  the  most  certain  mode  of  forget 
ting  my  causes  of  sorrow.  Plunge  into  any  thing  with  my  whole 
heart,  I  could  not,  then,  though  I  endeavored  to  lose  my  cares 
in  business. 

One  of  my  first  acts,  in  the  way  of  affairs,  was  to  look  after 
the  note  I  had  given  to  Rupert.  It  had  been  made  payable  at 
the  bank  where  I  kept  my  deposits,  and  I  went  thither  to  in 
quire  if  it  had  been  left  for  collection.  The  following  conversa 
tion  passed  between  myself  and  the  cashier  on  this  occasion : 

"  Good  morning,  Mr. ,"  I  said,  saluting  the  gentleman  ; 

"  I  have  come  to  inquire  if  a  note  for  $20,000,  made  by  me  in 
favor  of  Rupert  Hardinge,  Esquire,  at  ten  days,  has  been  left  for 
collection.  If  so,  I  am  ready  to  pay  it  now." 

The  cashier  gave  me  a  business  smile — one  that  spoke  favor 
ably  of  my  standing  as  a  moneyed  man — before  he  answered 
the  question.  This  smile  Avas,  also,  a  sign  that  money  was 
plenty. 

"  Not  absolutely  for  collection,  Captain  Wallingford,  as  noth- 


15H  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

ing  would  give  us  more  pleasure  than  to  renew  it,  if  you  would 
just  go  through  the  form  of  obtaining  a  city  endorser." 

"  Mr.  Hardinge  has  then  left  it  for  collection,"  I  observed, 
pained,  in  spite  of  all  that  had  passed,  at  Rupert's  giving  this 
conclusive  evidence  of  the  inherent  meanness  of  his  character. 

"  Not  exactly  for  collection,  sir,"  was  the  cashier's  answer, 
"  for  wishing  to  anticipate  the  money  by  a^  few  days,  and  being 
under  the  necessity  of  leaving  town,  we  discounted  it  for  him." 

"  Anticipate  ! — you  have  discounted  the  note,  sir  ?" 

"  With  the  greatest  pleasure,  knowing  it  to  be  good.  Mr. 
Hardinge  remarked  that  you  had  not  found  it  convenient  to 
draw  for  so  large  a  sum  on  the  spot,  and  had  given  this  note  at 
short  date ;  and  the  consideration  having  been  received  in  full, 
he  was  desirous  of  being  put  in  cash,  at  once.  We  did  not 
hesitate,  of  course." 

"  Consideration  received  in  full !"  escaped  me,  spite  of  a  de 
termination  to  be  cool ;  but,  luckily,  the  appearance  of  another 
person  on  business  prevented  the  words  or  the  manner  from 
being  noted.  "  Well,  Mr.  Cashier,  I  will  draw  a  check  and  take 
up  the  note,  now." 

More  smiles  followed.  The  check  was  given ;  the  note  was 
cancelled  and  handed  to  me,  and  I  left  the  bank  with  a  balance  in 
my  favor  of  rather  more  than  $10,000,  instead  of  the  $30,000 
odd,  which  I  had  held  previously  to  entering  it.  It  is  true,  I 
was  heir-at-law  to  all  Grace's  assets,  which  Mr.  Ilardinge  had 
handed  over  to  me,  the  morning  I  left  Clawbonny,  duly  assigned 
and  transferred.  These  last  consisted  of  stocks,  and  of  bonds 
and'inortgages,  drawing  interest,  being  on  good  farms  in  our 
own  county. 

"  Well,  Miles,  what  do  you  mean  to  do  with  your  ship  ?"  de 
manded  Jack  Wallingford,  that  evening.  "  I  understand  the 
freight  for  which  you  bargained  has  been  transferred  to  anoth 
er  owner,  on  account  of  your  late  troubles ;  and  they  tell  me 
freights,  just  now,  are  not  very  high." 

"Really,  cousin  Jack,  I  am  hardly  picpared  to  answer  the 
question.  Colonial  produce  commands  high  prices  in  the  north 


MILES     WALLINGFOKD.  157 

of  Germany,  they  tell  me;  and  were  I  in  cash  I  would  buy  a 
cargo  on  my  own  account.  Some  excellent  sugars  and  coffees, 
etc.,  were  offered  me  to-day,  quite  reasonably,  for  ready  money." 

"  And  how  much  cash  would  be  necessary  to  carry  out  that 
scheme,  my  man  ?" 

"  Some  $50,000,  more  or  less,  while  I  have  but  about  $10,000 
on  hand,  though  'I  can  command  $20,000  additional  by  selling 
certain  securities,  so  I  must  abandon  the  notion." 

"  That  does  not  follow  necessarily.  Let  me  think  a  night  on 
it,  and  we  will  talk  further  in  the  morning.  I  like  quick  bar 
gains,  but  I  like  a  cool  head.  This  hot  town  and  oLl  Madeira 
keep  me  in  a  fever,  and  I  wish  a  night's  rest  before  I  make  a 
bargain." 

The  next  morning  John  Wallingford  returned  to  the  subject, 
at  breakfast,  which  meal  we  took  by  ourselves,  in  order  to  be  at 
liberty  to  converse  without  any  auditors. 

"  I  have  thought  over  that  sweet  subject,  the  sugars,  Miles," 
commenced  my  cousin,  "  and  approve  of  the  plan.  Can  you 
give  me  any  further  security  if  I  will  lend  you.  the  money !" 

"  I  have  some  bonds  and  mortgages,  to  the  amount  of  twenty- 
two  thousand  dollars,  with  me,  which  might  be  assigned  for 
such  a  purpose." 

"  But  $22,000  are  an  insufficient  security  for  the  $30,000,  or 
$35,000,  which  you  may  need  to  carry  out  your  adventure." 

"  That  is  quite  true,  but  I  have  nothing  else  worth  mention 
ing — unless  it  be  the  ship  or  Clawbonny." 

"  Tut  for  the  ship  ! — she  is  gone  if  you  and  your  cargo  go ; 
and  as  for  insurances,  I  want  none  of  them — I  am  a  landed  man, 
and  like  landed  securities.  Give  me  your  note  at  three  months, 
or  six  months  if  you  will,  with  the  bonds  and  mortgages  you 
mention,  and  a  mortgage  on  Clawbonny,  and  you  can  have 
$40,000  this  very  day,  should  you  need  them." 

I  was  surprised  at  this  offer,  having  no  notion  my  kinsman 
was  rich  enough  to  lend  so  large  a  sum.  On  a  further  conver 
sation,  however,  I  learned  he  had  near  double  the  sum  he  had 
mentioned  in  ready  money,  and  that  h.s  principal  business  in 


158  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

town  was  to  invest  in  good  city  securities.  lie  professed  him 
self  willing,  however,  to  lend  rne  half,  in  order  to  help  along  a 
kinsman  he  liked.  I  did  not  at  all  relish  the  notion  of  mortgag 
ing  Clawbonny,  but  John  soon  laughed  and  reasoned  me  out  of 
that.  As  for  Grace's  securities,  I  parted  with  them  with  a  sort 
of  satisfaction ;  the  idea  of  holding  her  effects  being  painful  to 
inc. 

"  Were  it  out  of  the  family,  or  even  out  of  the  name,  I  should 
think  something  of  it  myself,  Miles,"  he  said,  "  but  a  mortgage 
from  you  to  me  is  like  one  from  me  to  you.  You  have  made 
me  your  heir,  and  to  be  honest  with  you,  boy,  /  have  made  you 
mine.  If  you  lose  my  money,  you  lose  your  own." 

There  was  no  resisting  this.  My  kinsman's  apparent  frank 
ness  and  warmth  of  disposition  overcame  all  my  scruples,  and 
I  consented  to  borrow  the  money  on  his  own  terms.  John 
Wallingford  Avas  familiar  with  the  conveyancing  of  real  estate, 
and  with  his  own  hand  he  filled  up  the  necessary  papers,  which 
I  signed.  The  money  was  borrowed  at  five  per  cent.,  my  cousin 
positively  refusing  to  receive  the  legal  rate  of  interest  from  a 
Wallingford.  Pay-day  was  put  at  six  months'  distance,  and  all 
was  done  in  due  form. 

"  I  shall  not  put  this  mortgage  on  record,  Miles,"  Jack  Wal 
lingford  remarked,  as  he  folded  and  endorsed  the  paper.  "  I 
have  too  much  confidence  in  your  honesty  to  believe  it  neces 
sary.  You  have  given  one  mortgage  on  Clawbonny  with  too 
much  reluctance,  to  render  it  probable  you  will  be  in  a  hurry 
to  execute  another.  As  for  myself,  I  own  to  a  secret  pleasure 
in  having  even  this  incomplete  hold  on  the  old  place,  which 
makes  me  feel  twice  as  much  of  a  Wallingford  as  I  ever  felt  be 
fore." 

For  my  part,  I  wondered  at  my  kinsman's  family  pride,  and 
I  began  to  think  I  had  been  too  humble  in  my  own  estimate  of 
our  standing  in  the  world.  It  is  true,  it  was  not  easy  to  deceive 
myself  in  this  particular,  and  in  point  of  fact  I  was  certainly 
rio'ht :  but  when  I  found  a  man  who  was  able  to  lend  $40,000 

o          ;  * 

at  an  hour's  notice,  valuing  himself  on  coming  from  Miles  the 


MILES     Vf  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  159 

First,  I  could  not  avoid  fancying  Miles  the  First  a  more  con 
siderable  personage  than  I  had  hitherto  imagined.  As  for  the 
money,  I  was  gratified  with  the  confidence  John  Wallingford 
reposed  in  me,  had  really  a  wish  to  embark  in  the  adventure  for 
which  it  supplied  the  me^ois,  and  regarded  the  abstaining  from 
recording  the  mortgage  an  act  of  delicacy  and  feeling  that  spoke 
well  for  the  lender's  heart. 

My  cousin  did  not  cast  me  adrift,  as  soon  as  he  had  filled  my 
pockets.  On  the  contrary,  he  went  with  me,  and  was  a  witness 
to  all  the  purchases  I  made.  The  colonial  produce  was  duly 
bought,  in  his  presence,  and  many  a  shrewd  hint  did  I  get  from 
this  cool-headed  and  experienced  man,  who,  while  he  was  no 
merchant,  in  the  common  sense  of  the  term,  had  sagacity 
enough  to  make  a  first-class  dealer.  As  I  paid  for  every  thing 
in  ready  money,  the  cargo  was  obtained  on  good  terms,  and  the 
Dawn  was  soon  stowed.  As  soon  as  this  was  done,  I  ordered  a 
crew  shipped,  and  the  hatches  battened  on. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  constant  and  important  business 
with  which  I  was  now  occupied,  had  a  tendency  to  dull  the  edge 
of  my  grief,  though  I  can  truly  say  that  the  image  of  Grace 
was  never  long  absent  from  my  mind,  even  in  the  midst  of  my 
greatest  exertions.  Nor  was  Lucy  forgotten.  She  was  usually 
at  my  sister's  side,  and  it  never  happened  that  I  remembered 
the  latter,  without  seeing  the  beautiful  semblance  of  her  living 
friend,  watching  over  her  faded  form,  with  sisterly  solicitude. 
John  Wallingford  left  me  at  the  end  of  a  week,  after  seeing  me 
fairly  under  way  as  a  merchant,  as  well  as  a  ship-owner  and  ship 
master. 

"  Farewell,  Miles,"  he  said,  as  he  shook  my  hand  with  a  cor 
diality  that  appeared  to  increase  the  longer  he  knew  me ;  "  fare 
well,  my  dear  boy,  and  may  God  prosper  you  in  all  your  lawful 
and  just  undertakings.  Never  forget  you  are  a  Wallingford,  and 
the  owner  of  Clawbonny.  Should  we  meet  again,  you  will  find 
a  true  friend  in  me ;  should  we  never  meet,  you  will  have  reason 
to  remember  me." 

This  leave-takinsf  occurred  at  the  inn.     A  few  hours  after  I 


160  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

was  in  the  cabin  of  the  Dawn,  arranging  some  papers,  when  1 
heard  a  well-known  voice  on  deck,  calling  out  to  the  stevedores 
and  riggers,  in  a  tone  of  authority,  "Come,  bear  a  hand,  and  lay 
aft ;  off  that  forecastle ;  to  this  derrick — who  ever  saw  a  derrick 
standing  before,  after  the  hatches  were  battened  down,  in  a  first- 
class  ship — a  regular  A  No.  1  ?  Bear  a  hand — bear  a  hand ; 
you've  got  an  old  sea-dog  among  you,  men." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  person.  On  reaching  the  deck, 
I  found  Marble,  his  coat  off,  but  still  wearing  all  the  rest  of  his 
"  go-ashores,"  flourishing  about  among  the  laborers,  putting 
into  them  new  life  and  activity.  He  heard  my  footsteps  behind 
him,  but  never  turned  to  salute  me,  until  the  matter  in  hand  was 
terminated.  Then  I  received  that  honor,  and  it  was  easy  to  see 
the  cloud  that  passed  over  his  red  visage,  as  he  observed  the 
deep  mourning  in  which  I  was  clad. 

"  Good  morning  to  you,  Captain  Wallingford,"  he  said,  mak 
ing  a  mate's  bow — "  good  morning,  sir.  God's  will  be  done  ! 
we  are  all  sinners,  and  so  are  some  of  the  stevedores,  who've 
left  this  derrick  standing  as  if  the  ship  needed  it  for  a  jury- 
mast.  Yes,  sir,  God's  will  must  be  submitted  to ;  and  sorry 
enough  was  I  to  read  the  obittery  in  the  newspapers — Grace, 
etc.,  daughter,  etc.,  and  only  sister,  etc.  You'll  be  glad  to 
hear,  however,  sir,  that  Willow  Cove  is  moored  head  and  starn 
in  the  family,  as  one  might  say,  and  that  the  bloody  mortgage 
is  cut  adrift." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  this,  Mr.  Marble,"  I  answered,  submitting 
to  a  twinge,  as  I  remembered  that  a  mortgage  had  just  been 
placed  on  my  own  paternal  acres  ;  "  and  I  trust  the  place  will 
long  remain  in  your  blocd.  How  did  you  leave  your  mother 
and  niece  ?" 

"  I've  not  left  'era  at  all,  sir.  I  brought  the  old  lady  and 
Kitty  to  town  with  me,  on  what  I  call  the  mutual  sight-seeing 
principle.  They  are  both  up  at  my  boarding-house." 

"  I  am  not  certain,  Moses,  that  I  understand  this  mutual  prin 
ciple,  of  which  you  speak." 

"  God  bless  you,  Miles,"  returned  the  mate,  who  could  prc- 


MILES      WALLINGFOKD.  101 

suine  to  be  familiar,  again,  now  we  had  walked  so  far  aft  as  not 
to  have  any  listeners ;  "  call  me  Moses  as  often  as  you  possibly 
can,  for  it's  little  I  hear  of  that  pleasant  sound  now.  Mother 
will  dub  me  Oloff,  and  little  Kitty  calls  me  nothing  but  uncle. 
After  all,  I  have  a  bulrush  feelin'  about  me,  and  Moses  will  al 
ways  seem  the  most  nat'ral.  As  for  the  mutual  principle,  it  is 
just  this :  I'm  to  show  mother  the  Dawn,  one  or  two  of  the 
markets — for,  would  you  believe  it,  the  dear  old  soul  never  saw 
a  market,  and  is  dying  to  visit  one,  and  so  I  shall  take  her  to 
see  the  Bear  first,  and  the  Oswego  next,  and  the  Fly  last,  though 
she  cries  out  agin'  a  market  that  is  much  visited  by  flies.  Then 
I  must  introduce  her  to  one  of  the  Dutch  churches  ;  after  that 
'twill  go  hard  with  me,  but  I  get  the  dear  soul  into  the  theatre; 
and  they  tell  me  there  is  a  lion,  up  town,  that  Avill  roar  as  loud 
as  a  bull.  That  she  must  see,  of  course." 

"  And  Avhen  your  mother  has  seen  all  these  sights,  what  will 
she  have  to  show  you  ?" 

"  The  tombstone  on  which  I  was  laid  out,  as  a  body  might 
say,  at  five  weeks  old.  She  tells  me  they  traced  the  stone,  out 
of  feelin'  like,  and  followed  it  up  until  they  fairly  found  it,  set 
down  as  the  headstone  of  an  elderly  single  lady,  with  a  most 
pious  and  edifying  inscription  on  it.  Mother  says  it  contains  a 
whole  varse  from  the  Bible  !  That  stone  may  yet  stand  me  in 
hand,  for  any  thing  I  know  to  the  contrary,  Miles." 

I  congratulated  my  mate  on  this  important  discovery,  and 
inquired  the  particulars  of  the  affair  with  the  old  usurer ;  in 
what  manner  the  money  was  received,  and  by  what  process 
the  place  had  been  so  securely  "  moored,  head  and  starn  in  the 
family." 

"  It  was  all  plain  sailing  when  a  fellow  got  on  the  right 
course,"  Marble  answered.  "  Do  you  know,  Miles,  that  they 
call  paying  off  one  of  your  heavy  loads  on  land,  '  lifting  the 
mortgage ;'  and  a  lift  it  is,  I  can  tell  you,  when  a  man  has  no 
money  to  do  it  with.  The  true  way  to  get  out  of  debt  is  to 
'arn  money  ;  I've  found  that  much  out  since  I  found  my  moth 
er;  and,  the  cash  in  hand,  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  hand  it  over 


162  MILES      W  ALL  IN  GFO  RD. 

Old  Van  Tassel  was  civil  enough  when  lie  saw  the  bag  of  dol 
lars,  and  was  full  of  fine  speeches.  He  didn't  wish  to  distress 
the  '  worthy  Mrs.  Wetmore,  not  he ;  and  she  was  welcome  to 
keep  the  money  as  long  as  she  pleased,  provided  the  interest 
was  punctually  paid ;'  but  I'd  have  none  of  his  soft  words,  and 
laid  down  the  Spaniards,  and  told  him  to  count  them.  I  '  lifted 
his  encumbrance,'  as  they  call'd  it,  as  easily  as  if  it  had  been  a 
pillow  of  fresh  feathers,  and  walked  off  with  that  bit  of  paper 
in  my  hands,  with  the  names  tore  off  it,  and  satisfaction  give 
me,  as  my  lawyer  said.  This  law  is  droll  business,  Miles ;  if 
money  is  paid,  they  give  you  satisfaction,  just  as  gentlemen  call 
on  each  other,  you  know,  when  a  little  cross.  But,  whatever 
you  do,  never  put  your  hand  and  seal  to  a  mortgage  ;  for  land 
under  such  a  curse  is  as  likely  to  slide  one  way  as  the  other. 
Clawbonny  is  an  older  place  than  Willow  Cove,  even ;  and  both 
are  too  venerable  and  venerated  to  be  mortgaged." 

The  advice  came  too  late.  Clawbonny  was  mortgaged  al 
ready,  and  I  confess  to  several  new  and  violent  twinges,  as  I  re 
called  the  fact,  while  Marble  was  telling  his  story.  Still  I  could 
not  liken  my  kinsman,  plain-talking,  warm-hearted,  family-loving, 
John  Wallingford,  to  such  a  griping  usurer  as  Mrs.  Wetmore's 
persecutor. 

I  was  glad  to  see  my  mate  on  every  account.  He  relieved 
me  from  a  great  deal  of  irksome  duty,  and  took  charge  of  the 
ship,  bringing  his  mother  and  Kitty,  that  very  day,  to  live  in 
the  cabin.  I  could  perceive  that  the  old  woman  was  greatly 
surprised  at  the  neatness  she  found  in  all  directions.  According 
to  her  notions,  a  ship  floated  nearly  as  much  in  tar  as  in  the 
water ;  and  great  was  her  pleasure  in  finding  rooms  almost  (con 
science  will  not  allow  me  to  say  quite)  as  clean  as  her  own  resi 
dence.  For  one  whole  day  she  desired  to  see  no  more  than 
the  ship,  though  it  was  easy  to  discover  that  the  good  woman 
had  set  her  heart  on  the  Dutch  church  and  the  lion.  In  due 
time  her  son  redeemed  all  his  pledges,  not  forgetting  the  thea 
tre.  With  the  last,  good  Mrs.  Wetmore  was  astounded,  and 
Kitty  infinitely  delighted.  The  pretty  little  thing  confessed 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  163 

that,  she  should  like  to  go  every  night,  wondered  what  Horace 
Bright  would  think  of  it,  and  whether  he  would  dare  venture 
alone  to  a  play-house,  should  he  happen  to  come  to  York.  In 
1803  this  country  was  still  in  the  palmy  state  of  unsophistica- 
tion.  There  were  few,  scarcely  any,  strolling  players,  and  none 
but  those  who  visited  the  cities,  properly  so  called,  enjoyed  op 
portunities  of  witnessing  the  wonders  of  paint,  patch,  and  candle 
light,  as  auxiliary  to  the  other  wonders  of  the  stage.  Poor  little 
Kitty !  There  was  a  day  or  two,  during  which  the  sock  and 
buskin  wrought  their  usual  effect  on  her  female  nature,  and  al 
most  eclipsed  the  glories  of  Horace  Bright,  in  her  own  bright 
eyes. 

I  could  not  refrain  from  accompanying  Marble's  party  to  the 
museum.  In  that  day,  this  was  a  somewhat  insignificant  collec 
tion  of  curiosities,  in  Greenwich  street,  but  it  was  a  miracle  to 
the  aunt  and  niece.  Even  the  worthy  Manhattanese  were  not 
altogether  guiltless  of  esteeming  it  a  wonder,  though  the  greater 
renown  of  the  Philadelphia  Museum  kept  this  of  New  York  a 
little  in  the  shade.  I  have  often  had  occasion  to  remark  that, 
in  this  republic,  the  people  in  the  country  are  a  little  less  coun 
try,  and  the  people  of  the  towns  a  good  deal  less  town,  than  is 
apt  to  be  the  case  in  great  nations.  The  last  is  easily  enough 
accounted  for :  the  towns  having  shot  up  so  rapidly,  and  re 
ceiving  their  accessions  of  population  from  classes  not  accustom 
ed  to  town  lives  from  childhood.  Were  a  thousand  villages  to 
he  compressed  into  a  single  group  of  houses,  their  people  would 
long  retain  the  notions,  tastes,  and  habits  of  villagers,  though 
they  would  form  a  large  town  in  the  aggregate.  Such,  in  a 
measure,  is  still  the  fact  with  our  American  towns ;  no  one  of 
them  all  having  the  air,  tone,  or  appearance  of  a  capital,  while 
most  of  them  would  be  paragons  in  the  eyes  of  such  persons  as 
old  Mrs.  Wetmore  and  her  grand-daughter.  Thus  it  was  that 
the  Greenwich  street  Museum  gave  infinite  satisfaction  to  these 
two  unsophisticated  visitors.  Kitty  <vas  most  struck  with  cer 
tain  villainous  wax-figures — works  of  art  that  were  much  on  a 
level  with  certain  similar  objects  that  were  lately,  if  they  are 


164  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

not  now,  exhibited  for  the  benefit  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of 
Westminster  Abbey,  above  the  tombs  of  the  Plantagenets,  and 
almost  in  contact  with  that  marvel  of  Gothic  art,  Henry  VII.'s 
chapel !  It  is  said  that  "  misery  makes  a  man  acquainted  with 
strange  bed-fellows."  So,  it  would  seem,  do  shillings  and  six 
pences.  To  return  to  Kitty:  after  admiring  divers  beauties, 
such  as  the  New  York  Beauty,  the  South  Carolina  Beauty, 
and  the  Pennsylvania  Beauty,  she  fastened  her  own  pretty  eyes 
on  a  nun,  wondering  who  a  female  in  such  an  attire  could  be. 
In  1803,  a  nun  and  a  nunnery  would  be  almost  as  great  cu 
riosities  in  America,  as  a  rhinoceros,  though  the  country  has 
since  undergone  some  changes  in  this  respect. 

"  Grandmother,"  exclaimed  Kitty,  "  who  can  that  lady  be — it 
isn't  Lady  Washington,  is  it  ?" 

"  It  looks  more  like  a  clergyman's  wife,  Kitty,"  answered  the 
worthy  Mrs.  Wetmore,  not  a  little  "  non-plushed,"  herself,  as  she 
afterward  admitted.  "  I  should  think  Madam  Washington  went 
more  gayly  dressed,  and  looked  happier-like.  I'm  sure  if  any 
woman  could  be  happy,  it  was  she !" 

"  Ay,"  answered  her  son,  "  there  is  truth  in  that  remark. 
This  woman,  here,  is  what  is  called  a  nun  in  the  Roman  Catho 
lic  quarters  of  the  world." 

"  A  nun !"  repeated  little  Kitty.  "  Isn't  that  the  sort  of 
woman  that  shuts  herself  up  in  a  house,  and  promises  never  to 
get  married,  uncle  ?" 

"  You're  quite  right,  my  dear,  and  it's  matter  of  surprise  to 
me  how  you  should  pick  up  so  many  useful  idecs,  in  an  out- 
of-the-way  place,  like  Willow  Cove." 

"  It  was  not  out  of  your  way,  uncle,"  said  Kitty,  a  little  re 
proachfully,  "  or  you  never  would  have  found  us." 

"  In  that  partic'lar  it  was  well  enough,  my  dear.  Yes,  a  nun 
is  a  sort  of  she-hermit,  a  breed  that  I  detest  altogether." 

"  I  -suppose,  Kitty,"  I  inquired,  "you  think  it  wicked  in  man 
or  woman  to  take  a  vow  never  to  get  married." 

The  poor  girl  blushed,  and  she  turned  away  from  the  nun 
without  making  any  reply.  No  one  can  say  what  turn  the  con- 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  165 

vcrsation  might  have  taken,  had  not  the  grandmother's  eye  fell 
on  an  indifferent  copy  of  Leonardo's  celebrated  picture  of  the 
Last  Supper,  receiving  at  the  same  time  a  printed  explanation, 
one  got  up  by  some  local  antiquary,  who  had  ventured  to  affix 
names  to  the  different  personages  of  the  group,  at  his  own  sug 
gestion.  I  pointed  out  the  principal  figure  of  the  painting, 
which  is  sufficiently  conspicuous,  by  the  way,  and  then  referred 
the  good  woman  to  the  catalogue  for  the  rest  of  the  names. 

"  Bless  me,  bless  me  !"  exclaimed  the  worthy  mother,  "  that 
[  should  live  ever  to  see  paintings  of  such  people  !  Kitty,  my 
dear,  this  bald-headed  old  man  is  St.  Peter.  Did  you  ever 
think  that  St.  Peter  was  bald  ?  And  there  is  St.  John,  Avith 
black  eyes.  Wonderful,  wonderful,  that  I  should  ever  live  to 
see  likenesses  of  such  blessed  men  !" 

Kitty  was  as  much  astonished  as  her  grandmother,  and  even 
the  son  was  a  little  mystified.  The  latter  remarked  that  "  the 
world  was  making  great  headway  in  all  such  things,  and,  for  his 
part,  he  did  not  see  how  the  painters  and  authors  found  out  all 
they  drew  and  recorded." 

The  reader  may  easily  imagine  that  half  a  day  spent  in  such 
company  was  not  entirely  thrown  away.  Still,  half  a  day  suf 
ficed  ;  and  I  went  to  the  Old  Coffee-house  at  one,  to  eat  a  sand 
wich  and  drink  a  glass  of  porter ;  that  being  the  inn  then  most 
frequented  for  such  purposes,  especially  by  the  merchants.  I 
was  in  my  box,  with  the  curtain  drawn,  when  a  party  of  three 
entered  that  which  adjoined  it,  ordering  as  many  glasses  of 
punch ;  which  in  that  day  was  a  beverage  much  in  request  of 
a  morning,  and  which  it  was  permitted  even  to  a  gentleman 
to  drink  before  dining.  It  was  the  sherry-cobbler  of  the  age ; 
although  I  believe  every  thing  is  now  pronounced  to  be  out  of 
fashion  before  dinner.  * 

As  the  boxes  were  separated  merely  by  curtains,  it  was  im 
possible  to  avoid  hearing  any  conversation  that  passed  in  the 
one  adjoining  my  own,  especially  when  the  parties  took  no 
pains  to  speak  low,  as  happened  to  be  the  case  with  my  three 
neighbors.  Consequently,  I  recognized  the  voices  of  Andrew 


166  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

Drewett  and  Rapert  llardingc  in  an  instant;  that  of  the  third 
person  lieing  unknown  to  me. 

"  Well,  Norton,"  said  Rupert,  a  little  affectedly  as  to  man 
ner,  "  you  have  got  Drewett  and  myself  down  here  among  you 
traders,  and  I  hope  you  will  do  the  honors  of  the  place,  in  a 
way  to  confer  on  the  latter  some  credit.  A  merchant  is  nothing 
without  credit,  you  know." 

"Have  no  apprehensions  for  your  gentility,  llardinge,"  re 
turned  the  person  addressed.  "  Many  of  the  first  persons  in 
town  frequent  this  house,  at  this  hour,  and  its  punch  is  renown 
ed.  By  the  way,  I  saw  in  a  paper,  the  other  day,  Rupert,  that 
one  of  your  relatives  is  dead — Miss  Grace  Wallingford,  your  sis 
ter's  old  associate." 

A  short  pause  followed,  during  which  I  scarcely  breathed. 

"  No,  not  a  relation,"  Rupert  at  length  answered.  "  Only 
my  father's  ward.  You  know  how  it  is  in  the  country  :  the 
clergyman  being  expected  to  take  care  of  all  the  sick,  and  all 
the  orphans." 

"  But  these  Wallingfords  are  people  altogether  above  stand 
ing  in  need  of  favors,"  Drewett  hastily  observed.  "  I  have  been 
at  their  place,  and  really  it  is  a  respectable  spot.  As  for  Miss 
Wallingford,  she  was  a  most  charming  girl,  and  her  death  will 
prove  a  severe  blow  to  your  sister,  Hardinge." 

This  was  said  with  so  much  feeling  that  I  could  almost  for 
give  the  speaker  for  loving  Lucy,  though  I  question  if  I  could 
ever  truly  forgive  him  for  being  beloved  by  her. 

"Why,  yes,"  rejoined  Rupert,  affecting  an  indifference  that  I 
could  detect  he  was  far  from  feeling,  "  Grace  was  a  good  crea 
ture  ;  though,  living  so  much  with  her  in  childhood,  she  had 
less  interest  in  my  eyes,  perhaps,  than  she  might  have  had  in 
those  of  one  less  accustomed  to  see  Tier.  Notwithstanding,  I 
had  a  sort  of  regard  for  Grace,  I  will  confess." 

"  Respect  and  esteem  her,  I  should  think  all  who  knew  her 
must,"  added  Drewett,  as  if  determined  to  win  my  heart ;  "  and, 
in  my  opinion,  she  was  both  beautiful  and  lovely." 

"  This  from  a  man  who  is  confessedly  an  admirer,  nay,  en- 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  167 

gaged  to  your  own  sister,  as  the  world  says,  Hardiuge,  must  be 
taken  as  warm  praise,"  said  the  third.  "  But  I  suppose  Drewett 
sees  the  dear  departed  with  the  eyes  of  her  friend — for  Miss 
Hardinge  was  very  intimate  with  her,  I  believe." 

"  As  intimate  as  sisters,  and  loving  each  other  as  sisters,"  re 
turned  Drewett,  with  feeling.  "  No  intimate  of  Miss  Hardinge'st 
can  be  any  thing  but  meritorious." 

"  Grace  Wallingford  had  merit  beyond  a  question,"  added 
Rapert,  "as  has  her  brother,  who  is  a  good,  honest  fellow 
enough.  When  a  boy,  /  was  rather  intimate  Avith  him." 

"The  certain  proof  of  his  excellences  and  virtues,"  put  in 
the  stranger,  laughing.  "  But,  if  a  ward,  there  must  be  a  for 
tune.  I  think  I  have  heard  these  Wallingfords  were  richish." 

"  Yes,  that  is  just  it — richish"  said  Drewett.  " Some  forty 
or  fifty  thousand  dollars  between  them,  all  of  which  the  brother 
must  now  inherit ;  and  glad  am  I  it  falls  to  so  good  a  fellow." 

"  This  is  generous  praise  from  you,  Drewett,  for  I  have  heard 
this  brother  might  prove  your  rival." 

"  I  had  some  such  fears  myself,  once,  I  will  confess,"  returned 
the  other,  "  but  they  are  all  vanished.  I  no  longer  fear  him, 
and  can  see  and  acknowledge  his  merits.  Besides,  I  am  indebted 
to  him  for  my4ifc." 

"No  longer  fear  him."  This  was  plain  enough,  and  was 
proof  of  the  understanding  that  existed  between  the  lovers. 
And  why  should  I  be  feared  ?  I,  who  had  never  dared  to  say 
a  word  to  the  object  nearest  my  heart,  that  might  induce  her 
to  draw  the  ordinary  distinction  between  passion  and  esteem — 
love,  and  a  brotherly  regard  ? 

"  Ay,  Drewett  is  pretty  safe,  I  fancy,"  Rupert  remarked, 
laughing ;  "  though  it  will  hardly  do  for  me  to  tell  tales  out  of 
school." 

"This  is  a  forbidden  subject,"  rejoined  the  lover,  "and  wo 
will  talk  of  "Wallingford.  He  must  inherit  his  sister's  fortune." 

"  Poor  Grace !  it  was  little  she  had  to  leave,  I  fancy,"  Ru 
pert  quietly  observed. 

"  Ay,  little  in  your  eyes,  Hardinge,"  added  the  third  person, 


168  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

"  but  a  good  deal  in  those  of  her  brother,  the  shipmaster,  one 
might  think.  Ever  since  you  have  fallen  heir  to  Mrs.  Bradfort's 
estate,  a  few  thousands  count  for  nothing." 

"  AVcrc  it  a  million,  that  brother  would  think  it  dearly  pur 
chased  by  the  loss  of  his  sister !"  exclaimed  Drcwctt. 

"  It's  plain  enough  there  is  no  rivalry  between  Andrew  and 
Miles,"  added  the  laughing  Rupert.  "  Certainly  money  is  not 
quite  of  so  much  account  with  me  now,  as  it  used  to  be  Avhen  I 
had  nothing  but  a  clergyman's  salary  to  glean  from.  As  for 
Mrs.  Bradfort's  fortune,  it  came  from  a  common  ancestor,  and 
I  dc  not  see  who  has  a  better  right  to  it,  than  those  who  now 
enjoy  it." 

"  Unless  it  might  be  your  father,"  said  the  third  man,  "  who 
stood  before  you,  according  to  the  laws  of  primogeniture.  I 
dare  say  Rupert  made  love  to  his  venerable  cousin,  if  the  truth 
were  known,  and  induced  her  to  overlook  a  generation,  with  his 
oily  tongue." 

"  Rupert  did  nothing  of  the  sort ;  it  is  his  glory  to  love  Emily 
Morton,  and  Emily  Morton  only.  As  my  worthy  cousin  could 
not  take  her  fortune  with  her,  she  left  it  among  her  natural 
heirs.  How  do  you  know  I  have  got  any  of  it  ?  I  give  you  my 
honor,  my  account  in  bank  is  under  820,000."  -' 

"  A  pretty  fair  account,  that,  by  Jove !"  exclaimed  the  other. 
"  It  must  be  a  rapping  income  that  will  permit  a  fellow  like  you 
to  keep  up  such  a  balance." 

"Why,  some  persons  say  my  sister  has  the  whole  fortune. 
I  dare  say  that  Drewett  can  satisfy  you  on  this  head.  The 
affair  concerns  him  quite  as  much  as  it  does  any  other  person 
of  my  acquaintance." 

"  I  can  assure  you  I  know  nothing  about  it,"  answered 
Drewett,  honestly.  "  Nor  do  I  desire  to  know.  I  Avould  marry 
Miss  Hardinge  to-morrow,  though  she  had  not  a  cent." 

"It's  just  this  disinterestedness,  Andrew,  that  makes  me  like 
you,"  observed  Rupert,  magnificently.  "Depend  on  it,  you'll  fare 
none  the  worse,  in  the  long  run,  for  this  admirable  trait  in  your 
character.  Lucy  knows  it,  and  appreciates  it  as  she  should." 


MILES     WALLINOFOUD.  109 

I  wished  to  hear  no  more,  but  left  the  box  and  the  house, 
taking  care  not  to  be  seen.  From  that  moment,  I  was  all  im 
patience  to  get  to  sea.  I  forgot  even  the  intention  of  visiting 
my  sister's  grave ;  nor  did  I  feel  that  I  could  sustain  another 
interview  with  Lucy  herself.  That  afternoon  I  told  Marble  tho 
ship  must  be  ready  to  sail  the  succeeding  morning. 
8 


170  MILES      WALLIXGFOKD. 


CHAPTER  XL 

u  Go  tenderness  of  years ;  take  this  key.    Give  enlargement  to  the  swain — Lriug  him 
fostinately  hither.    I  must  employ  him  in  a  letter  to  my  love." 

LOVE'S  LAEOK  LOST. 

I  WILL  not  attempt  to  analyze  the  feelings  which  now  im 
pelled  me  to  quit  America.  I  had  discovered,  or  thought  I  had 
discovered,  certain  qualities  in  Andrew  Drcwett  which  rendered 
him,  in  some  measure  at  least,  worthy  of  Lucy ;  and  I  experi 
enced  how  painful  it  is  to  concede  such  an  advantage  to  a  rival. 
Still,  I  must  be  just  enough  to  add,  that  in  my  cooler  moments, 
when  I  came  to  consider  that  Lucy  could  never  be  mine,  I  was 
rejoiced  to  find  such  proofs  of  a  generous  disposition  in  her 
future  husband.  On  the  other  hand,  I  could  not  divest  myself 
of  the  idea  that  perfect  confidence  in  his  own  position  could 
alone  enable  him  to  be  so  liberal  in  his  opinions  of  myself.  The 
reader  will  understand  how  extravagant  was  this  last  supposi 
tion,  when  he  remembers  that  I  had  never  given  Lucy  herself, 
or  the  world,  any  sufficient  reason  to  suppose  that  I  was  a 
suitor  for  the  dear  girl's  hand. 

I  never  saw  Marble  so  industrious  as  he  proved  to  be  when 
he  received  my  hurried  orders  for  sailing,  that  afternoon.  He 
shipped  his  mother  and  niece  for  Willow  Cove,  by  an  Albany 
sloop,  the  same  evening,  got  the  crew  on  board,  and  the  Dawn 
into  the  stream,  before  sunset,  and  passed  half  the  night  in 
sending  off  small  stores.  As  for  the  ship,  she  had  been  cleared 
the  day  the  hatches  were  battened  down.  According  to  every 
rule  of  mercantile  thrift,  I  ought  to  have  been  at  sea  twenty- 
four  hours,  when  these'  orders  were  given ;  but  a  lingering  re 
luctance  to  go  further  from  the  grave  of  Grace,  the  wish  to  Lave 


MILES     W  AL  L  IN  G  F  O  RD.  171 

one  more  interview  with  Lucy,  and  a  disposition  to  indulge  my 
mate  in  his  commendable  zeal  to  amuse  his  new-found  relatives, 
kept  me  in  port  beyond  my  day. 

All  these  delays,  however,  were  over,  and  I  was  now  in  a 
feverish  hurry  to  be  off.  Neb  came  up  to  the  City  Hotel  as  I 
was  breakfasting,  and  reported  that  the  ship  was  riding  at 
single  anchor,  with  a  short  range,  and  that  the  fore-topsail  was 
loose.  I  sent  him  to  the  post  office  for  letters,  and  ordered  my 
bill.  All  my  trunks  had  gone  aboard  before  the  ship  hauled 
off,  and — the  distances  in  New  York  then  being  short — Neb  was 
soon  back,  and  ready  to  shoulder  my  carpet-bag.  The  bill  was 
paid,  three  or  four  letters  were  taken  in  my  hand,  and  I  walked 
toward  the  Battery,  followed  by  the  faithful  black,  who  had 
again  abandoned  home,  Chloe,  and  Clawbonny,  to  follow  my 
fortunes. 

I  delayed  opening  the  letters  until  I  reached  the  Battery. 
Dispatching  Neb  to  the  boat,  with  orders  to  wait,  I  took  a 
turn  among  the  trees — still  reluctant  to  quit  the  native  soil — 
while  I  broke  the  seals.  Two  of  the  letters  bore  the  post-marks 
of  the  office  nearest  Clawbonny ;  the  third  was  from  Albany ; 
and  the  fourth  was  a  packet  of  some  size  from  Washington, 
franked  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  and  bearing  the  seal  of  office. 
Surprised  at  such  a  circumstance,  I  opened  the  last  of  these 
communications  first. 

The  official  letter  proved  to  be  an  envelope  containing — 
with  a  civil  request  to  myself  to  deliver  the  enclosures — dis 
patches  addressed  to  the  Consul  at  Hamburg,  for  which  port 
my  ship  had  been  advertised  some  time.  Of  course,  I  could 
only  determine  to  comply ;  and  that  communication  was  dis 
posed  of.  One  of  the  Clawbonny  letters  was  in  Mr.  Hardinge's 
hand,  and  I  found  it  to  contain  some  excellent  and  parental  ad 
vice.  He  spoke  of  my  sister,  but  it  was  calmly,  and  with  the 
humble  hope  that  became  his  sacred  office.  I  was  not  sorry 
to  find  that  he  advised  me  not  to  visit  Clawbonny  before  I  sail 
ed.  Lucy,  he  said,  was  well,  and  a  gentle  sadness  was  gradually 
taking  the  place  of  the  livelier  grief  she  had  endured,  imme- 


172  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

diately  after  the  loss  of  her  friend.  "  You  were  not  aware, 
Miles,  how  keenly  she  suffered,"  my  good  old  guardian  con 
tinued,  "  for  she  struggled  hard  to  seem  calm  in  your  presence ; 
but  from  me  my  dear  child  had  no  secrets  on  this  subject, 
whatever  she  may  see  fit  to  have  on  another.  Hours  has  sho 
passed,  weeping  on  my  bosom,  and  I  much  doubt  if  the  image 
of  Grace  has  been  absent  from  her  waking  thoughts  a  single 
minute,  at  any  one  time,  since  we  first  laid  your  sister's  head  in 
the  coffin.  Of  you  she  does  not  speak  often,  but,  when  she 
does,  it  is  ever  in  the  kindest  and  most  solicitous  manner ; 
calling  you  '  Miles,' 'poor  Miles,'  or  'dear  Miles,' with  all  that 
sisterly  frankness  and  affection  you  have  known  in  her  from 
childhood."  The  old  gentleman  had  underscored  the  "  sisterly" 
himself. 

To  my  delight  and  surprise,  there  was  a  long,  very  long,  letter 
from  Lucy,  too !  How  it  happened  that  I  did  not  recognize 
her  pretty,  delicate,  lady-like  handwriting,  is  more  than  I  can 
say ;  but  the  direction  had  been  overlooked  in  the  confusion  of 
receiving  so  many  letters  together.  That  direction,  too,  gave 
me  pleasure.  It  was  to  "  Miles  Wallingford,  Esquire ;"  whereas 
the  three  others  were  addressed  to  "  Captain  Miles  Wallingford, 
ship  Dawn,  New  York."  Now  a  shipmaster  is  no  more  enti 
tled,  in  strict  usage,  to  be  called  a  "  captain,"  than  he  is  to  be 
called  an  "  esquire."  Your  man-of-war  officer  is  the  only  true 
captain ;  a  "master"  being  nothing  but  a  "master."  Then,  no 
American  is  entitled  to  be  called  an  "  esquire,"  which  is  the 
correlative  of  "  knight,"  and  is  a  title  properly  prohibited  by 
the  constitution,  though  most  people  imagine  that  a  magistrate 
is  an  "  esquire,"  ex  officio.  He  is  an  "  esquire"  as  a  member  of 
Congress  is  an  "  honorable,"  by  assumption,  and  not  of  right ; 
and  I  wish  the  country  had  sufficient  self-respect  to  be  consist 
ent  with  itself.  What  should  we  think  of  Mark  Anthony,  Es 
quire  ?  or  of  'Squire  Lucius  Junius  Brutus  ?  or  His  Excellency 
Julius  Cajsar,  Esquire  ?*  Nevertheless,  "  esquire"  is  an  appella- 

*  A  few  years  since,  the  writer  saw  a  marriage  announced  in  a  colored  paper,  which 
read,  u  Married,  by  the  Kcv.  Julius  Caesar, Washington,  to  Miss ." 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  173 

lion  that  is  now  universally  given  to  a  gentleman  who,  in  truth, 
is  the  only  man  in  this  country  that  has  any  right  to  it  at  all, 
and  he  only  by  courtesy.  Lucy  had  felt  this  distinction,  and  I 
was  grateful  for  the  delicacy  and  tact  with  which  she  had  drop 
ped  the  "  captain,"  and  put  in  the  "  esquire."  To  me  it  seemed 
to  say  that  she  recognized  me  as  one  of  her  own  class,  let  Ru 
pert  and  his  light  associates  think  of  me  as  they  might.  Lucy 
never  departed  a  hair's  breadth  from  the  strictly  proper,  in  all 
matters  of  this  sort,  something  having  been  obtained  from  edu 
cation,  but  far  more  from  the  inscrutable  gifts  of  nature. 

As  for  the  letter  itself,  it  is  too  long  to  copy  ;  yet  I  scarce 
know  how  to  describe  it.  Full  of  heart  it  was,  of  course,  for 
the  dear  girl  was  all  heart ;  and  it  was  replete  with  her  truth 
and  nature.  The  only  thing  in  it  that  did  not  give  me  entire 
satisfaction,  was  a  request  not  to  come  again  to  Clawbonny  until 
my  return  from  Europe.  "  Time,"  she  added,  "  will  lessen  the 
pain  of  such  a  visit ;  and,  by  that  time,  you  will  begin  to  re 
gard  our  beloved  Grace  as  I  already  regard  her,  a  spotless  spirit 
waiting  for  our  union  with  it  in  the  mansions  of  bliss.  It  is  not 
easy,  Miles,  to  know  how  to  treat  such  a  loss  as  this  of  ours. 
God  may  bless  it  to  our  lasting  good,  and,  in  this  light,  it  is 
useful  to  bear  it  ever  in  mind  ;  while  a  too  great  submission  to 
sorrow  may  only  serve  to  render  us  unhappy.  Still,  I  think,  no 
one  who  knew  Grace,  as  we  knew  her,  can  ever  recall  her  image 
without  feeling  himself  drawn  nearer  to  the  dread  being  who 
created  her,  and  who  has  called  her  to  himself  so  early.  We, 
alone,  thoroughly  understood  the  beloved  creature  !  My  dear, 
excellent  father  loved  her  as  he  loves  me,  but  he  could  not,  did 
not  know  all  the  rare  virtues  of  her  heart.  These  could  be 
known  only  to  those  who  knew  her  great  secret,  and,  God  be 
praised  !  even  Rupert  has  little  true  knowledge  of  that. 

"  My  father  has  spoken  to  me  of  Grace's  wish,  that  he  and 
I  should  accept  some  memorials  of  the  affection  she  bore  us. 
These  were  unnecessary,  but  are  far  too  sacred  to  be  declined. 
I  sincerely  wish  that  their  value  in  gold  had  been  less,  for  the 
hair  I  possess  (some  of  which  is  reserved  for  you)  is  far  more 


174  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

precious  to  me  than  any  diamonds  or  stones  could  possibly  be 
come.  As,  however,  something  must  be  purchased  or  procured, 
I  have  to  request  that  my  memorial  may  be  the  pearls  you  gave 
Grace,  on  your  return  from  the  Pacific.  Of  course  I  do  not 
mean  the  valuable  necklace  you  have  reserved  for  one  who  will 
one  day  be  still  dearer  to  you  than  any  of  us,  but  the  dozen  or 
two  of  pearls  that  you  bestowed  on  your  sister,  in  my  presence, 
at  Clawbonny.  They  are  sufficiently  valuable  in  themselves  to 
answer  all  the  purposes  of  Grace's  bequest,  and  I  know  they 
were  very  much  prized  by  her,  as  your  gift,  dear  Miles.  I  am 
certain  you  will  not  believe  they  will  be  the  less  valuable  in  my 
eyes  on  that  account.  As  I  know  where  they  arc,  I  shall  go  to 
Clawbonny  and  take  possession  of  them  at  once,  so  you  need 
give  yourself  no  further  concern  on  account  of  the  memorial  that 
was  to  be  presented  to  me.  I  acknowledge  its  reception,  unless 
you  object  to  my  proposition." 

I  scarce  knew  what  to  think  of  this.  I  would  gladly  have 
bestowed  on  Lucy  pearls  of  equal  value  to  those  I  had  given 
Grace,  but  she  refused  to  receive  them,  and  now  she  asked  for 
these  very  pearls,  which,  intrinsically,  were  not  half  the  value  of 
the  sum  I  had  informed  Mr.  Hardinge,  Grace  had  requested  me 
to  expend  in  purchasing  a  memorial.  This  avidity  to  possess 
these  pearls — for  so  it  struck  me — was  difficult  to  account  for, 
Grace  having  owned  divers  other  ornaments  that  were  more 
costly,  and  which  she  had  much  oftener  worn.  I  confess  I  had 
thought  of  attempting  to  persuade  Lucy  to  receive  my  own 
necklace  as  the  memorial  of  Grace,  but  a  little  reflection  satisfied 
me  of  the  hopelessness  of  success,  and  nothing  had  been  said  on 
the  subject.  Of  course  I  acquiesced  in  the  wish  of  the  dear  girl 
to  possess  the  pearls,  but  at  the  same  time  I  determined  to  make 
the  additional  purchase,  more  thoroughly  to  carry  out  the  wishes 
of  my  sister. 

On  tb,e  whole,  the  letter  of  Lucy  gave  me  a  great  and  sooth 
ing  pleasure.  I  came  to  a  resolution  to  answer  it,  and  to  send 
that  answer  back  by  the  pilot.  I  had  no  owner  to  feel  any  so 
licitude  in  the  movements  of  the  ship  ;  had  no  longer  a  sister  to 


MILES      WALLIKGFOKD.  175 

care  for  myself,  and  to  whom  else  could  my  last  words  on  quit 
ting  the  land  be  so  appropriately  addressed,  as  to  this  constant 
and  true-hearted  friend  ?  That  much,  at  least,  I  could  presume 
to  call  Lucy,  and  even  to  that  I  clung  as  the  shipwrecked  mari 
ner  clings  to  the  last  plank  that  floats. 

The  fourth  letter,  to  my  astonishment,  bore  the  signature  of 
John  Wallingford,  and  the  date  of  Albany.  He  had  got  this 
far  on  his  way  home,  and  written  me  a  line  to  let  me  know  the 
fact.  I  copy  his  epistle  in  full,  viz. : — •  * 

"  DEAR  MILES  : 

"  Here  I  am,  and  sorry  am  I  to  sec,  by  the  papers,  there  you 
are  still.  Recollect,  my  dear  boy,  that  sugars  will  melt.  It  is 
time  you  were  off;  this  is  said  for  your  own  sake,  and  not  for 
mine,  as  you  well  know  I  am  amply  secured.  Still,  the  markets 
may  fall,  and  he  Avho  is  first  in  them  can  wait  for  a  rise,  while 
he  who  is  last  must  take  what  offers. 

"  Above  all,  Miles,  do  not  take  it  into  your  head  to  alter  your 
will.  Things  are  now  arranged  between  us  precisely  as  they 
should  be,  and  I  hate  changes.  I  am  your  heir,  and  you  are 
mine.  Your  counsel,  Richard  Harrison,  Esquire,  is  a  man  of 
great  respectability,  and  a  perfectly  safe  repository  of  such  a  se 
cret.  I  leave  many  of  my  papers  in  his  hands,  and  he  has  now 
been  my  counsel  ever  since  I  had  need  of  one,  and  treads  so 
hard  on  Hamilton's  heels  that  the  last  sometimes  feels  his  toes. 
This  is  as  counsel,  however,  and  not  as  an  advocate. 

"  Adieu,  my  dear  boy :  we  are  both  Wallingfords,  and  the 
nearest  of  kin  to  each  other,  of  the  name.  Clawbonny  will  be 
safe  with  either  of  us,  and  cither  of  us  will  be  safe  with  Claw- 
bonny. 

"  Your  affectionate  cousin, 

"  JOHN  WALLINGFOKD." 

I  confess  that  all  this  anxiety  about  Clawbonny  began  to  gi/o 
me  some  uneasiness,  and  that  I  often  wished  I  had  been  less  am 
bitious,  or  less  hasty  would  be  the  better  word,  and  had  been 


176  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

content  to  go  to  sea  again,  in  my  simple  character  of  shipmas 
ter,  and  ship-owner ;  leaving  the  merchant  to  those  who  better 
understood  the  vocation. 

I  now  went  to  the  boat,  and  to  the  ship.  Marble  was  all 
ready  for  me,  and  in  ten  minutes  the  anchor  was  clear  of  the 
bottom ;  in  ten  more,  it  was  catted  and  fished,  and  the  Dawn 
was  beating  down  the  bay,  on  a  young  flood,  with  a  light  breeze 
at  south-west.  The  pilot  being  in  charge,  I  had  nothing  to  do 
but  go  below  and  -write  my  letters.  I  answered  everybody, 
even  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  who,  at  that  time,  was  no  less  a 
man  than  James  Madison.  To  him,  however,  I  had  nothing  to 
say,  but  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  dispatches,  and  to 
promise  to  deliver  them.  My  letter  to  Mr.  Hardinge,  was,  I 
hope,  such  as  a  son  might  have  written  to  a  revered  parent. 
In  it,  I  begged  he  would  allow  me  to  add  to  his  library,  by  a 
purchase  of  theological  works  of  value,  and  which,  in  that  day, 
could  only  be  procured  in  Europe.  This  was  to  be  his  memo 
rial  of  my  sister.  I  also  begged  of  his  friendship  an  occasional 
look  at  Clawbonny,  though  I  did  not  venture  to  speak  of  the 
mortgage,  of  which  I  now  felt  a  sort  of  conviction  he  would  not 
approve. 

The  letter  to  John  "Wallingford,  was  as  pithy  as  his  own  t<» 
me.  I  told  him  my  will  was  made,  on  a  conviction  of  its  per 
fect  propriety,  and  assured  him  it  would  not  be  altered  in  a 
hurry ;  I  told  him  the  sugars  were  safe,  and  let  him  understand 
that  they  were  already  on  their  way  to  Hamburg,  whence  I 
hoped,  ere  long,  to  send  him  a  good  account  of  their  sale. 

To  Lucy,  I  was  by  no  means  so  laconic.  On  the  subject  of 
the  pearls  of  Grace,  I  begged  her  to  do  just  as  she  pleased ;  add 
ing  a  request,  however,  that  she  would  select  such  others  of  my 
sister's  ornaments,  as  might  be  most  agreeable  to  herself.  On 
tins  point  I  was  a  little  earnest,  since  the  pearls  were  not  worth 
the  sum  Grace  had  mentioned  to  me ;  and  I  felt  persuaded  Lucy 
would  not  wish  me  to  remain  her  debtor.  There  was  a  pair  of 
bracelets,  in  particular,  that  Grace  had  highly  prized,  and  which 
were  very  pretty  in  themselves  My  father  had  purchased  the 


MILES      Vf  ALL  IN  G  F  O  RD.  177 

stones — rubies  of  some  beauty — in  one  of  his  voyages,  for  my 
mother,  who  had  fancied  them  too  showy  for  her  to  wear.  I 
had  caused  them  to  be  set  for  Grace,  and  they  would  make  a 
very  suitable  ornament  for  Lucy ;  and  were  to  be  so  much  the 
more  prized,  from  the  circumstance  that  Grace  had  once  worn 
them.  It  is  true,  they  contained  a  little,  though  very  little  of 
my  hair ;  for  on  this  Grace  had  insisted ;  but  this  hair  was  rather 
a  blemish,  and  might  easily  be  removed.  I  said  as  much  in  my 
letter. 

On  the  subject  of  my  sister's  death,  I  found  it  impossible  to 
write  much.  The  little  I  did  say,  however,  was  in  full  accord 
ance  with  her  own  feelings,  I  felt  persuaded,  and  I  had  no  diffi 
culty  in  believing  she  would  sympathize  in  all  I  did  express,  and 
in  much  that  I  had  not  words  to  express. 

On  the  subject  of  the  necklace,  I  did  find  language  to  com 
municate  a  little,  though  it  was  done  in  the  part  of  the  letter 
where  a  woman  is  said  to  give  her  real  thoughts — the  post 
script.  In  answer  to  what  Lucy  had  said  on  the  subject  of  my 
own  necklace,  I  wrote  as  follows,  viz. : — "  You  speak  of  my  re 
serving  the  more  valuable  pearls  for  one,  who,  at  some  future 
day,  may  become  my  wife.  I  confess  this  was  my  own  inten 
tion,  originally ;  and  very  pleasant  was  it  to  me  to  fancy  that 
one  so  dear  would  wear  pearls  that  had  been  brought  up  out  of 
the  sea  by  my  own  hands.  But,  dearest  Lucy,  all  these  agree 
able  and  delusive  anticipations  have  vanished.  Depend  on  it,  I 
shall  never  marry.  I  know  that  declarations  of  this  sort,  in 
young  men  of  three-and-twenty,  like  those  of  maidens  of  nine 
teen,  excite  a  smile  oftener  than  they  produce  belief;  but  I  do 
not  say  this  without  reflection,  and,  I  may  add,  without  feeling. 
She  whom  I  once  did  hope  to  persuade  to  marry  me,  although 
much  my  friend,  is  not  accustomed  to  view  me  with  the  eyes 
that  lead  to  love.  We  were  brought  together  under  circum 
stances  that  have  probably  induced  her  to  regard  me  more  as  a 
brother  than  as  a  suitor,  and  while  the  golden  moments  have 
passed  away,  her  affections  have  become  the  property  of  an 
other.  I  resemble,  in  this  particular  at  least,  our  regretted 


178  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

Grace,  and  am  not  likely  to  change.  My  nature  may  be  stern 
er,  and  my  constitution  stronger,  than  those  of  my  poor  sister 
proved  to  be,  but  I  feel  I  cannot  love  twice ;  not  as  I  have,  and 
still  do  love,  most  certainly.  Why  should  I  trouble  you  with 
all  this,  however?  I  know  you  will  not  accept  of  the  necklace — 
though  so  ready  to  give  me  your  own  last  piece  of  gold,  when  I 
went  to  sea,  you  have  ever  been  so  fastidious  as  to  refuse  every 
thing  from  us  that  had  the  least  appearance  of  a  pecuniary  ob 
ligation — and  it  is  useless  to  say  more  about  it.  I  have  no  right 
to  trouble  you  with  my  griefs,  especially  at  a  moment  when  I 
know  your  affectionate  heart  is  suffering  so  deeply  from  our  re 
cent  loss." 

I  will  confess  that,  while  writing  this,  I  fancied  I  was  making 
a  sort  of  half  declaration  to  Lucy ;  one  that  might,  at  least, 
give  her  some  faint  insight  into  the  real  state  of  my  heart ;  and 
I  had  a  melancholy  satisfaction  in  thinking  that  the  dear  girl 
might,  by  these  means,  learn  how  much  I  had  prized  and  still 
did  prize  her.  It  was  only  a  week  later,  Avhile  pondering  over 
Avhat  I  had  written,  the  idea  occurred  to  me  that  every  syllable 
I  had  said  would  apply  just  as  Avell  to  Emily  Merton  as  to  Lucy 
Hardinge.  Peculiar  circumstances  had  made  me  intimately  ac 
quainted  with  our  young  English  friend,  and  these  circumstances 
might  well  have  produced  the  very  results  I  had  mentioned. 
We  all  believed  Emily's  affections  to  be  engaged  to  Rupert,  who 
must  have  succeeded  during  my  absence  at  sea.  A  modest  and 
self-distrusting  nature,  like  that  of  Lucy's,  would  be  very  apt  to 
turn  to  any  other  than  herself  in  quest  of  the  original  of  my 
picture. 

These  letters  occupied  me  for  hours.  That  to  Lucy,  in  par 
ticular,  was  very  long,  and  it  was  not  written  wholly  without 
care.  When  all  were  done,  and  sealed,  and  enveloped  to  the 
address  of  the  postmaster,  I  went  on  deck.  The  pilot  and 
Marble  had  not  been  idle  while  I  had  been  below,  for  I  found 
the  ship  just  weathering  the  south-west  Spit,  a  position  that 
enabled  me  to  make  a  fair  wind  of  it  past  the  Hook  and  out 
to  sea. 


MILES     WALLINGFOIiD.  179 

Certainly  I  was  in  no  haste  to  quit  home.  I  was  leaving  my 
native  land,  Clawbonny,  the  grave  of  my  sister,  and  Lucy, 
dearest  Lucy,  all  behind  me ;  and,  at  such  an  instant,  one  feels 
the  ties  that  are  about  to  be  separated.  Still,  every  seaman  is 
anxious  for  an  offing,  and  glad  was  I  to  see  the  head  of  the 
Dawn  pointing  in  the  right  direction,  with  her  yards  nearly 
square,  and  a  fore-topmast  studding-sail  set.  The  pilot  was  all 
activity,  and  Marble,  cool,  clear-headed  in  his  duty,  and  instinc 
tively  acquainted  with  every  thing  belonging  to  a  vessel,  was 
just  the  man  to  carry  out  his  views  to  his  heart's  content. 

The  ship  went,  rising  and  falling  on  the  swells  of  the  ocean, 
that  now  began  to  make  themselves  felt,  past  the  light  and  the 
low  point  of  the  Hook,  within  a  few  minutes  after  we  had 
squared  away,  and,  once  more,  the  open  ocean  lay  before  us.  I 
could  not  avoid  smiling  at  Neb,  just  as  we  opened  the  broad 
waste  of  waters,  and  got  an  unbroken  view  of  the  rolling  ocean 
to  the  southward.  The  fellow  was  on  the  main-topsail  yard, 
having  just  run  out,  and  lashed  the  heel  of  a  topgallant  stud 
ding-sail  boom,  in  order  to  set  the  sail.  Before  he  lay  in  to 
the  mast,  he  raised  his  Herculean  frame,  and  took  a  look  to 
windward.  His  eyes  opened,  his  nostrils  dilated,  and  I  fancied 
he  resembled  a  hound  that  scented  game  in  the  gale,  as  lie 
snuffed  the  sea  air  which  came  fanning  his  glistening  face,  filled 
with  the  salts  and  peculiar  flavors  of  the  ocean.  I  question  if 
Neb  thought  at  all  of  Chloe  for  the  next  hour  or  two ! 

As  soon  as  we  got  over  the  bar,  I  gave  the  pilot  my  pack 
age,  and  he  got  into  his  boat.  It  was  not  necessary  to  shorten 
sail  in.  order  to  do  this,  for  the  vessel's  way  did  not  exceed  five 
knots. 

"  Do  you  see  the  sail,  hereaway  in  the  south-eastern  board  ?" 
said  the  pilot,  as  he  went  over  the  side,  pointing  toward  a  white 
speck  on  the  ocean ;  "  take  care  of  that  fellow,  and  give  him  as 
wide  a  berth  as  possible,  or  he  may  give  you  a  look  at  Halifax, 
or  Bermuda." 

"  Halifax  or  Bermuda  !  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  either,  and 
?hall  not  go  there.  Why  should  I  foar  that  sail  ?" 


ISO  MILES     -WALLINGFORU. 

"  Oil  account  of  your  cargo,  and  on  account  of  your  men, 
That  is  his  Majesty's  ship  Leandcr  ;  she  has  been  off  here,  now, 
iriore  than  a  week.  The  inward-bound  craft  say  she  is  acting 
under  some  new  orders,  and  they  name  several  vessels  that  have 
been  seen  heading  north-east  after  she  had  boarded  them.  This 
new  war  is  likely  to  lead  to  new  troubles  on  the  coast,  and  it 
is  well  for  all  outward-bound  ships  to  be  on  the  look-out." 

"His  Majesty's  ship"  was  a  singular  expression  for  nn  Ameri 
can  to  use,  toward  any  sovereign,  twenty  years  after  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  country  was  acknowledged.  But  it  was  com 
mon  then,  nor  has  it  ceased  entirely  even  among  the  newspapers 
of  the  present  hour ;  so  much  harder  is  it  to  substitute  a  new 
language  than  to  produce  a  revolution.  Notwithstanding  this 
proof  of  bad  taste  in  the  pilot,  I  did  not  disregard  his  caution. 
There  had  been  certain  unpleasant  rumors  up  in  town  for  more 
than  a  month,  that  the  two  great  belligerents  would  be  apt  to 
push  each  other  into  the  old  excesses,  England  and  France  at 
that  day  having  such  a  monopoly  of  the  ocean  as  to  render 
them  somewhat  independent  of  most  of  the  old-fashioned,  no 
tions  of  the  rights  of  neutrals.  As  for  America,  she  was  cursed 
with  the  cant  of  economy — an  evil  that  is  apt  to  produce  as 
many  bad  consequences  as  the  opposite  vice,  extravagance.  The 
money  paid  as  interest  on  the  sums  expended  in  the  war  of 
1812,  might  have  maintained  a  navy  that  would  have  caused 
both  belligerents  to  respect  her  rights,  and  thereby  saved  the 
principal  entirely,  to  say  nothing  of  all  the  other  immense  losses 
dependent  on  an  interrupted  trade;  but  demagogues  were  at 
work  with  their  raven  throats,  and  it  is  not  reasonable  to  ex 
pect  that  the  masses  can  draw  very  just  distinctions  on  the  sub 
ject  of  remote  interests,  when  present  expenditure  is  the  ques 
tion  immediately  before  them.  It  is  true,  I  remember  a  modern 
French,  logician,  who  laid  down  the  dogma  that  the  tendency 
of  democracies  being  to  excesses,  if  you  give  a  people  the  pow 
er,  they  would  tax  themselves  to  death ;  but,  however  true  this 
theory  may  be  in  the  main,  it  certainly  is  not  true  quoad  the 
good  citizens  of  the  great  model  republic.  It  was  bad  enough 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  181 

to  be  accursed  with  a  spurious  economy ;  but  tins  was  not  tho 
heaviest  grievance  that  then  weighed  upon  the  national  interests. 
The  demon  of  faction,  party  spirit,  was  actively  at  work  in  the 
country ;  and  it  Avas  almost  as  rare  to  find  a  citizen  who  Was 
influenced  purely  by  patriotic  and  just  views,  as  it  would  be  to 
find  an  honest  man  in  the  galleys.  The  nation,  as  a  rule,  was 
either  English  or  French.  Some  swore  by  the  First  Consul, 
and  some  by  Billy  Pitt.  As  for  the  commercial  towns,  taken 
in  connection  with  the  upper  classes,  these  were  little  more  than 
so  nlany  reflections  of  English  feeling,  exaggerated  and  rendered 
still  more  factitious,  by  distance.  Those  who  did  not  swallow 
all  that  the  English  tories  chose  to  pour  down  their  throats, 
took  the  pillules  Napoleons  without  gagging.  If  there  were  ex 
ceptions,  they  were  very  few,  and  principally  among  travelled 
men — pilgrims  who,  by  approaching  the  respective  idols,  had 
discovered  they  were  made  by  human  hands  ! 

Impressment  at  sea,  and  out  of  neutral  vessels,  was  revived, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  with  the  renewal  of  the  war,  and  all 
American  ships  felt  the  expediency  of  avoiding  cruisers  that 
might  deprive  them  of  their  men.  Strange  as  it  may  seem, 
a  large  and  leading  class  of  Americans  justified  this  claim  of 
the  English,  as  it  was  practised  on  board  their  own  country's 
vessels  !  "What  will  not  men  defend  when  blinded  and  excited 
by  faction  ?  As  this  practice  was  to  put  the  mariner  on  the 
defensive,  and  to  assume  that  every  man  was  an  Englishman 
who  could  not  prove,  out  on  the  ocean,  a  thousand  miles  from 
land  perhaps,  that  he  was  an  American,  it  followed  that  English 
navy  officers  exercised  a  jurisdiction  over  foreigners  and  under 
a  foreign  flag,  that  would  not  be  tolerated  in  the  Lord  High 
Chancellor  himself,  in  one  of  the  streets  of  London  ;  that  of 
throwing  the  burden  of  proving  himself  innocent,  on  the  accused 
party !  There  was  an  abundance  of  other  principles  that  were 
just  as  obvious,  and  just  as  unanswerable  as  this,  which  were 
violated  by  the  daily  practices  of  impressment,  but  they  all 
produced  no  effect  on  the  members  of  Congress  and  public 
writers  that  sustained  the  right  of  the  English,  who  as  blindly 


182  MILES      AVALLINGFORD. 

espoused  one  sicle  of  the  main  question  as  their  opponents 
espoused  the  other.  Men  acting  under  the  guidance  of  fac 
tions  are  not  compos  mentis. 

I  think  I  may  say,  without  boasting  unreasonably  of  my  own 
good  sense,  that  I  have  kept  myself  altogether  aloof  from  the 
vortex  of  parties,  from  boyhood  to  the  present  hour.  My  fa- 
'ther  had  been  a  federalist,  but  a  federalist  a  good  deal  cooled 
off,  from  having  seen  foreign  countries,  and  no  attempts  had 
ever  been  made  to  make  me  believe  that  black  Avas  white  in  the 
interest  of  either  faction.  I  knew  that  impressment  from  for 
eign  vessels,  out  of  the  waters  of  Great  Britain  at  least,  could  be 
defended  on  no  other  ground  but  that  of  power ;  and  as  for 
colonial  produce,  and  all  the  subtleties  that  were  dependent  on 
its  transportation,  I  fancied  that  a  neutral  had  a  perfect  right  to 
purchase  of  one  belligerent  and  sell  to  another,  provided  he 
found  it  his  interest  so  to  do,  and  he  violated  no  positive — not 
paper — blockade,  or  did  not  convey  articles  that  are  called  con 
traband  of  war. 

With  these  views,  then,  it  is  not  surprising  that  I  easily  came 
into  the  pilot's  opinion,  and  determined  to  give  the  Lcander  a 
sufficient  berth,  as  sailors  express  it. 

The  Leander  was  a  fifty,  on  two  decks,  a  very  silly  sort  of  a 
craft,  though  she  had  manfully  played  her  part  at  the  Nile,  and 
on  one  or  two  other  rather  celebrated  occasions,  and  was  a  good 
vessel  of  the  build.  Still  I  felt  certain  the  Dawn  could  get 
away  from  her  under  tolerably  favorable  circumstances.  The 
Leander  afterward  became  notorious,  on  the  American  coast,  in 
consequence  of  a  man  killed  in  a  coaster  by  one  of  her  shot, 
Avithin  twenty  miles  of  the  spot  where  I  now  saw  her,  an  event 
jhat  had  its  share  in  awakening  the  feeling  that  produced  the 
war  of  1812 — a  Avar  of  Avhich  the  effects  are  just  beginning  to 
be  made  manifest  in  the  policy  of  the  republic ;  a  fact,  by  the 
way,  that  is  little  understood  at  home  or  abroad.  The  Leander 
was  a  fast  ship  of  her  kind,  but  the  DaAvn  Avas  a  fast  ship  of  any 
kind,  and  I  had  great  faith  in  her.  It  is  true,  the  fifty  had  the 
advantage  of  the  Avind,  but  she  Avas  a  long  way  off,  well  to  the 


MILES      AV  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  183 

southward,  and  might  have  something  in  sight  that  could  not  he 
seen  even  from  our  topgallant  yards,  whither  Neb  Avas  sent  to 
take  a  look  at  the  horizon. 

Our  plan  was  soon  laid.  The  south  side  of  Long  Island 
trending  a  little  to  the  north  of  east,  I  ordered  the  ship  to  be 
steered  east-by-south,  which,  with  the  wind  at  south-south-west, 
gave  me  an  opportunity  to  carry  all  our  studding-sails.  The 
soundings  were  as  regular  as  the  ascent  on  the  roof  of  a  shed, 
or  on  that  of  a  graded  lawn,  and  the  land  in  sight  less  than  two 
leagues  distant.  In  this  manner  we  ran  down  the  coast,  \vith 
about  six  knots'  way  on  the  ship,  as  soon  as  we  got  from  under 
the  Jersey  shore. 

In  less  than  an  hour,  or  when  we  were  about  four  leagues 
from  Sandy  Hook  light,  the  Englishman  wore  short  round,  and 
made  sail  to  cut  us  off.  By  this  time  he  was  just  forward  of 
our  weather-beam,  a  position  that  did  not  enable  him  to  carry 
studding-sails  on  both  sides,  for  had  he  kept  off  enough  for  this 
he  would  have  fallen  into  our  wake,  while,  by  edging  away  to 
close  with  us,  his  after-sails  becalmed  the  forward,  and  this  at 
the  moment  when  every  thing  of  ours  pulled  like  a  team  of  well- 
broken  cart-horses.  Notwithstanding  all  this  we  had  a  nervous 
afternoon's  and  night's  work  of  it.  These  old  fifties  are  great 
travellers  off  the  wind ;  and  more  than  once  I  fancied  the  Lean- 
der  was  going  to  lay  across  my  bows,  as  she  did  athwart  those 
of  the  Frenchman  at  the  Nile.  The  Dawn,  however,  was  not 
idle,  and  as  the  wind  stood  all  that  day,  throughout  the  night, 
and  was  fresher,  though  more  to  the  southward  than  it  had  hith 
erto  been,  next  morning,  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  Mon- 
tauk  a  little  on  my  lee-bow,  at  sunrise,  while  my  pursuer  was 
still  out  of  gunshot  on  my  weather-beam. 

Marble  and  I  now  held  a  consultation  on  the  subject  of  the 
best  mode  of  proceeding.  I  was  half  disposed  to  let  the  Lean- 
der  come  up,  and  send  a  boat  on  board  us.  What  had  we  to 
fear  ?  We  were  bound  to  Hamburg  with  a  cargo,  one  half  of 
which  came  from  the  English,  while  the  other  half  came  from 
the  French  islands.  But  what  of  that  ?  Marble,  however,  would 


184  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

not  listen  to  such  a  project.  lie  affirmed  that  he  was  a  good  pilot 
in  all  the  sounds,  and  that  it  would  be  better  to  risk  every  thing 
rather  than  let  that  fifty  close  with  us. 

"  Keep  the  ship  away  for  Montauk,  sir,"  exclaimed  the  mate ; 
"  keep  her  away  for  Montauk,  and  let  that  chap  follow  us  if  he 
dare !  There's  a  reef  or  two  inside  that  I'll  engage  to  lead  him 
on,  should  he  choose  to  try  the  game,  and  that  will  cure  him  of 
his  taste  for  chasing  a  Yankee." 

"  Will  you  engage,  Moses,  to  carry  the  ship  over  the  shoals, 
if  I  will  do  as  you  desire,  and  go  inside  ?" 

"  I'll  carry  her  into  any  port  east  of  Block  Island,  Captain 
Wallingford.  Though  New  York  born,  as  it  now  turns  out,  I'm 
*  down-east'  edicated,  and  have  got  a  '  coasting  pilot'  of  my  own 
in  my  head." 

This  settled  the  matter,  and  I  came  to  the  resolution  to  stand 
on. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  185 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"  The  wind  blows  fair,  the  vessel  feels 
The  pressure  of  the  rising  breeze, 
And,  swiftest  of  a  thousand  keels, 
She  leaps  to  the  careering  seas" — 

'WILLIS. 

HALF  an  liour  later,  tilings  drew  near  a  crisis.  We  had  been 
obliged  to  .Tiff  a  little,  in  order  to  clear  a  reef  that  even  Marble 
admitted  lay  off  Montauk,  while  the  Leander  had  kept  quite 
as  much  away,  with  a  view  to  close.  This  brought  the  fifty  so 
near  us,  directly  on  our  weather-beam,  as  to  induce  her  com 
mander  to  try  the  virtue  of  gunpowder.  Her  bow-gun  was 
fired,  and  its  shot,  only  a  twelve-pounder,  richoched  until  it 
fairly  passed  our  fore-foot,  distant  a  hundred  yards,  making  its 
last  leap  from  the  water  precisely  in  a  line  with  the  stem  of  the 
Dawn.  This  was  unequivocal  evidence  that  the  game  could  not 
last  much  longer,  unless  the  space  between  the  two  vessels 
should  be  sensibly  widened.  Fortunately,  we  now  opened  Mon- 
tauk  fort,  and  the  option  was  offered  us  of  doubling  that  point, 
and  entering  the  Sound,  or  of  standing  on  toward  Block  Island, 
and  putting  the  result  on  our  heels.  After  a  short  consultation 
with  Marble,  I  decided  on  the  first. 

One  of  the  material  advantages  possessed  by  a  man-of-war  in 
a  chase  with  a  merchant-vessel,  is  in  the  greater  velocity  with 
Avhich  her  crew  can  make  or  take  in  sail.  I  knew  that  the  mo 
ment  we  began  to  touch  our  braces,  tacks  and  sheets,  that  the 
Leander  would  do  the  same,  and  that  she  would  effect  her 
objects  in  half  the  time  in  which  we  could  effect  ours.  Never 
theless,  the  thing  was  to  be  done,  and  we  set  about  the  prepa 
rations  with  care  and  assiduity.  It  was  a  small  matter  to  round 


180  MILES     WA.LLINGFORD. 

in  our  weatlier-braces,  until  the  yards  were  nearly  square,  but 
the  rigging  out  of  her  studding-sail  booms,  and  the  setting  of 
the  sails,  was  a  job  to,  occupy  the  Dawn's  people  several  minutes. 
Marble  suggested  that  by  edging  gradually  away,  we  should 
bring  the  Leander  so  far  on  our  quarter  as  to  cause  the  after-sails 
to  conceal  what  we  were  about  forward,  and  that  we  might  steal 
a  march  on  our  pursuers  by  adopting  this  precaution.  I  thought 
the  suggestion  a  good  one,  and  the  necessary  orders  were  given 
to  carry  it  out. 

Any  one  might  be  certain  that  the  Englishman's  glasses  were 
levelled  on  us  the  whole  time.  Some  address  was  used,  there 
fore,  in  managing  to  get  our  yards  in  Avithout  showing  the  peo 
ple  at  the  braces.  This  was  done  by  keeping  off  first,  and  then 
by  leading  the  ropes  as  far  forward  as  possible,  and  causing  the 
men  to  haul  on  them,  seated  on  deck.  In  this  manner  we  got 
our  yards  nearly  square,  or  as  much  in  as  our  new  course  re 
quired,  when  we  sent  hands  aloft,  forward,  to  get  out  the  lee 
booms.  But  we  reckoned  without  our  host.  John  Bull  was 
not  to  be  caught  in  that  way.  The  hands  were  hardly  in  the 
lee  fore-rigging,  before  I  saw  the  fifty  falling  off  to  our  course, 
her  yards  squared,  and  signs  aboard  her  that  she  had  larboard 
studding-sails  as  well  as  ourselves.  The  change  of  course  had 
one  good  effect,  however ;  it  brought  our  pursuer  so  far  on  our 
quarter,  that,  standing  at  the  capstan,  I  saw  him  through  the 
mizzen-rigging.  This  took  the  Dawn  completely  from  under 
the  Leander's  broadside,  leaving  us  exposed  to  merely  four  or 
five  of  her  forward  guns,  should  she  see  fit  to  use  them.  "Wheth 
er  the  English  were  reluctant  to  resort  to  such  very  decided 
means  of  annoyance,  so  completely  within  the  American  waters, 
as  we  were  clearly  getting  to  be,  or  whether  they  had  so  much 
confidence  in  their  speed,  as  to  feel  no  necessity  for  firing,  I 
never  knew ;  but  they  did  not  have  any  further  recourse  to 
shot. 

As  might  have  been  foreseen,  the  fifty  had  her  extra  canvas 
spread  some  time  before  we  could  open  ours,  and  I  fancied  she 
showed  the  advantage  thus  obtained  in  her  rate  of  sailing.  She 


MILES      AVALLINGFORD.  187 

certainly  closed  with  us,  though  we  closed  much  faster  with  the 
land ;  still,  there  was  imminent  danger  of  her  overhauling  us  be 
fore  we  could  round  the  point,  unless  some  decided  step  were 
promptly  taken  to  avoid  it. 

"  On  the  whole,  Mr.  Marble,"  I  said,  after  my  mates  and  my 
self  had  taken  a  long  and  thoughtful  look  at  the  actual  state  of 
things — "  on  the  \vholc,  Mr.  Marble,  it  may  be  well  to  take  in 
our  light  sails,  haul  our  Avind,  and  let  the  man-of-war  come  up 
with  us.  We  are  honest  folk,  and  there  is  little  risk  in  his  see 
ing  all  that  we  have  to  show  him." 

"  Never  think  of  it !"  cried  the  mate.  "  After  this  long  pull, 
the  fellow  will  be  as  savage  as  a  bear  with  a  sore  head.  He'd 
not  leave  a  hand  on  board  us,  that  can  take  his  trick  at  the 
wheel ;  and  it's  ten  chances  to  one  that  he  would  send  the  ship 
to  Halifax,  under  some  pretence  or  other,  that  the  sugars  are 
not  sweet  enough,  or  that  the  coffee  was  grown  in  a  French 
island,  and  tastes  French.  No — no — Captain  Wallingford — 
here's  the  wind  at  sou'-sou'-west,  and  we're  heading  nothe-east 
and  by  nothe-half-nothe  already,  with  that  fellow  abaft  the 
mizzen-riggin' ;  as  soon  as  we  get  a  p'int  more  to  the  nor'ard, 
we'll  have  him  fairly  in  our  wake." 

"Ay,  that  --will  do  very  well  as  a  theory,  but  what  can  AVC 
make  of  it  in  practice  ?  We  are  coming  up  tOAvard  Montauk  at 
the  rate  of  eight  knots,  and  you  have  told  me  yourself  there  is 
a  reef  off  that  point,  directly  toAvard  Avhich  AVC  must  this  moment 
be  standing.  At  this  rate,  fifteen  minutes  might  break  us  up 
into  splinters." 

I  could  see  that  Marble  Avas  troubled,  by  the  manner  in  which 
he  rolled  his  tobacco  about,  and  the  riveted  gaze  he  kept  on 
the  Avater  ahead.  I  had  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  seaman- 
like  prudence  and  discretion,  Avhile  I  IUICAV  he  Avas  capable  of 
suggesting  any  thing  a  ship  could  possibly  perform,  in  an  emer 
gency  that  called  for  such  an  exercise  of  decision.  At  that 
moment,  he  forgot  our  present  relations,  and  Avent  back,  as  he 
often  did  AA'hcn  excited,  to  the  days  of  our  greater  equality,  and 
more  trying  scenes. 


188  MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  II  I>  . 

"  Harkee,  Miles,"  he  said,  "  the  reef  is  dead  ahead  of  us,  but 
there  is  a  passage  between  it  and  the  point.  I  went  through  that 
passage  in  the  revvylution  war,  in  chase  of  an  English  West 
Injyman,  and  stood  by  the  lead  the  whole  way,  myself.  Keep 
her  away,  Neb — keep  her  away,  another  p'int :  so — steady — 
very  well,  dyce  (anglice,  thus) — k«ep  her  so,  and  let  John  Bull 
follow  us,  if  he  dare." 

"  You  should  be  very  sure  of  your  channel,  Mr.  Marble,"  1 
said,  gravely,  "  to  take  so  much  responsibility  on  yourself.  Re 
member  my  all  is  embarked  in  this  ship,  and  the  insurance  will 
not  be  worth  a  sixpence,  if  we  are  lost  running  through  such  a 
place  as  this  in  broad  daylight.  Reflect  a  moment,  I  beg  of 
you,  if  not  certain  of  what  you  do." 

"And  what  "will  the  insurance  be  worth,  ag'in  Halifax,  or 
Bermuda?  I'll  put  my  life  on  the  channel,  and  would  care 
more  for  your  ship,  Miles,  than  my  own.  If  you  love  me,  stand 
on,  and  let  us  see  if  that  lubberly  make-believe  two-decker  dare 
follow." 

I  was  fain  to  comply,  though  I  ran  a  risk  that  I  find  it  im 
possible  now  to  justify  to  myself.  I  had  my  cousin  John  Wal- 
lingford's  property  in  charge,  as  well  as  my  own,  or  what  was 
quite  as  bad,  I  placed  Clawbonny  in  imminent  jeopardy.  Still, 
my  feelings  were  aroused,  and  to  the  excitement  of  a  race,  was 
added  the  serious  but  vague  apprehensions  all  American  sea 
men  felt,  in  that  day,  of  the  great  belligerents.  It  is  a  singular 
proof  of  human  justice,  that  the  very  consequences  of  these  ap 
prehensions  are  made  matter  of  reproach  against  them. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  dwell  further  on  the  policy  of  Eng 
land  and  France,  during  their  great  contest  for  superiority,  than 
is  necessary  to  the  narrative  of  events  connected  with  my  own 
adventures ;  but  a  word  in  behalf  of  American  seamen  in  pass 
ing,  may  not  be  entirely  out  of  place  or  season.  Men  are  seldom 
wronged  without  being  calumniated,  and  the  body  of  men  of 
which  I  was  then  one,  did  not  escape  that  sort  of  reparation  for 
all  the  grievances  they  endured,  which  is  dependent  on  demon 
strating  that  the  injured  deserved  their  sufferings.  We  have 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  189 

been  accused  of  misleading  English  cruisers  by  false  information, 
of  being  liars  to  an  unusual  degree,  and  of  manifesting  a  grasp 
ing  love  of  gold,  beyond  tlio  ordinary  cupidity  of  man.  Now 
I  will  ask  our  accusers  if  it  were  at  all  extraordinary  that  they 
who  felt  themselves  daily  aggrieved,  should  resort  to  the  means 
within  their  power ^to  avenge  themselves  ?  As  for  veracity,  no 
one  who  has  reached  my  present  time  of  life,  can  be  ignorant 
that  truth  is  the  rarest  thing  in  the  world,  nor  are  those  who 
have  been  the  subjects  of  mystifications  got  up  in  the  payment 
for  wrongs,  supposed  or  real,  the  most  impartial  judges  of  char 
acter  or  facts.  As  for  the  charge  of  an  undue  love  of  money,  it 
is  unmerited.  Money  will  do  less  in  America  than  in  any  other 
country  of  my  acquaintance,  and  infinitely  less  than  in  either 
France  or  England. 

There  is  truth  in  this  accusation,  as  applied  either  to  a  partic 
ular  class  or  to  the  body  of  the  American  people,  only  in  one  re 
spect.  It  is  undeniable  that,  as  a  new  nation,  with  a  civilization 
that  is  wanting  in  so  many  of  its  higher  qualities,  while  it  is  al 
ready  so  far  advanced  in  those  which  form  the  basis  of  national 
greatness,  money  does  not  meet  with  the  usual  competition 
among  us.  The  institutions,  too,  by  dispensing  with  hereditary 
consideration,  do  away  with  a  leading  and  prominent  source  of 
distinction  that  is  known  to  other  systems,  thus  giving  to  riches 
an  exclusive  importance,  that  is  rather  apparent,  however,  than 
real.  I  acknowledge  that  little  or  no  consideration  is  yet  given 
among  us  to  any  of  the  more  intellectual  pursuits,  the  great  bulk 
of  the  nation  regarding  literary  men,  artists,  even  professional 
men,  as  so  many  public  servants,  that  are  to  be  used  like  any 
other  servants,  respecting  them  and  their  labors  only  as  they 
can  contribute  to  the  great  stock  of  national  wealth  and  renown. 
This  is  owing,  in  part,  to  the  youth  of  a  country  in  which  most 
of  the  material  foundation  was  so  recently  to  be  laid,  and  in  part 
to  the  circumstance  that  men,  being  under  none  of  the  factitious 
restraints  of  other  systems,  coarse  and  vulgar-minded  declaimers 
make  themselves  heard  and  felt  to  a  degree  that  would  not  bo 
tolerated  elsewhere. 


190  MILKS      WALLINGFOUD. 

Notwithstanding  all  these  defects,  which  no  intelligent,  and 
least  of  all,  no  travelled  American  should  or  can  justly  deny,  I 
will  maintain  that  gold  is  not  one  tittle  more  the  goal  of  the 
American  than  it  is  of  the  native  of  other  active  and  energetic 
communities.  It  is  true,  there  is  little  besides  gold,  just  now,  to 
aim  at  in  this  country,  but  the  great  number  of  young  men  who 
devote  themselves  to  letters  and  the  arts,  under  such  unfavorable 
circumstances,  a  number  greatly  beyond  the  knowledge  of  for 
eign  nations,  proves  it  is  circumstances,  and  not  the  grovelling 
propensities  of  the  people  themselves,  that  give  gold  a  so  nearly 
undisputed  ascendency.  The  great  numbers  who  devote  them 
selves  to  politics  among  us,  certainly  any  thing  but  a  money- 
making  pursuit,  proves  that  it  is  principally  the  want  of  other 
avenues  to  distinction  that  renders  gold  apparently  the  sole  aim 
of  American  existence.  To  return  from  this  touch  of  philosophy 
to  our  ships. 

The  progress  of  the  Dawn  soon  left  us  no  choice  in  the  course 
to  be  steered.  We  could  see  by  the  charts  that  the  reef  was 
already  outside  of  us,  and  there  was  now  no  alternative  between 
going  ashore,  or  going  through  Marble's  channel.  We  succeed 
ed  in  the  last,  gaining  materially  on  the  Leander  by  so  doing, 
the  Englishman  hauling  his  wind  when  he  thought  himself  as 
near  to  the  danger  as  was  prudent,  and  giving  up  the  chase.  I 
ran  on  to  the  northward  an  hour  longer,  when,  finding  our  pur 
suer  was  hull  down  to  the  southward  and  westward,  I  took  in 
our  larboard  studding-sails,  and  brought  the  ship  by  the  wind, 
passing  out  to  sea  again,  to  the  eastward  of  Block  Island. 

Great  was  the  exultation  on  board  the  Dawn  at  this  escape, 
for  escape  it  proved  to  be.  Next  morning,  at  sunrise,  we  saw  a 
sail  a  long  distance  to  the  Avestward,  which  we  supposed  to  be 
the  Leander,  but  she  did  not  give  chase.  Marble  and  the  peo 
ple  were  delighted  at  having  given  John  Bull  the  slip,  while  I 
learned  caution  from  the  occurrence,  determining  not  to  let 
another  vesscl-of-war  get  near  enough  to  trouble  me  again,  could 
I  possibly  prevent  it. 

From  this  time,  for  twenty  days,  the  passage  of  the  Dawn  had 


MILES     WALLINGFOUD.  191 

nothing  unusual.  We  crossed  the  Banks  in  forty-six,  and  made 
as  straight  a  course  for  the  western  extremity  of  England,  as  the 
winds  would  allow.  For  several  days  I  was  uncertain  whether 
to  go  north-about  or  not,  believing  that  I  should  fall  in  with 
fewer  cruisers  by^doubling  Scotland  than  by  running  up  Chan 
nel.  The  latter  was  much  the  nearest  route,  though  so  much 
depends  on  the  winds,  that  I  determined  to  let  these  last  govern. 
Until  we  had  made  two  thirds  of  our  distance  across  the  ocean, 
the  winds  had  stood  very  much  at  south-west,  and  though  we 
had  no  heavy  weather,  our  progress  was  good ;  but  in  20°  east 
from  Greenwich,  we  got  north-casters,  and  our  best  tack  being 
the  larboard,  I  stood  for  ten  days  to  the  southward  and  eastward. 
This  brought  us  into  the  track  of  every  thing  going  to  or  coming 
from  the  Mediterranean,  and,  had  we  stood  on  far  enough,  we 
should  have  made  the  land  somewhere  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay. 
I  knew  we  should  find  the  ocean  dotted  with  English  cruisers, 
however,  as  soon  as  we  got  into  European  waters,  and  we  tacked 
to  the  north-west,  when  about  a  hundred  leagues  from  the  land. 
The  thirty-third  day  out  proved  one  of  great  importance  to 
me.  The  wind  had  shifted  to  south-west,  and  it  was  blowing 
fresh,  with  very  thick  weather — rain  mingled  with  a  fine  mist, 
that  often  prevented  one's  seeing  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
ship.  The  change  occurred  at  midnight,  and  there  was  every 
prospect  of  the  wind's  standing  until  it  shoved  us  into  the  chops 
of  the  Channel,  from  which  we  were  then  distant  about  four 
hundred  miles,  according  to  my  own  calculation.  Marble  had 
"the  watch  at  four  o'clock,  and  he  sent  for  me,  that  I  might  de 
cide  on  the  course  to  be  steered  and  the  sail  to  be  carried.  The 
course  was  north-north-east ;  but,  as  for  the  sail,  I  determined  to 
stand  on  under  our  topsails  and  fore-course,  spanker  and  jib, 
until  I  could  get  a  look  by  daylight.  When  the  sun  was  fairly 
up,  there  was  no  change,  and  I  gave  orders  to  get  along  some 
of  the  larger  studding-sails,  and  to  set  the  main-topgallant-sail, 
having  my  doubts  whether  the  spars  would  bear  any  more  can 
vas,  under  the  stiff  breeze  that  was  blowing. 

"  This  is  no  great  distance  from  the  spot  where  we  surprised 


192  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

the  Lady  of  Nantes,  Captain  Wallingford,"  Marble  observed  to 
me,  as  I  stood  overlooking  the  process  of  bending  a  fore-topmast 
studding-sail,  in  -which  he  was  engaged  with  his  own  hands ; 
"  nor  was  the  weather  any  thicker  then  than  it  is  now,  though 
that  was  a  haze,  and  this  is  a  mist." 

"  You  are  out  of  your  longitude  a  few  hundred  miles,  Master 
Moses,  but  the  comparison  is  well  enough  otherwise.  We  have 
twice  the  wind  and  sea  we  had  then,  moreover,  and  that  was 
dry  weather,  while  this  is,  to  speak  more  gingerly,  a  little 
moist." 

"Ay,  ay,  sir ;  there  is  just  that  difference.  Them  were  pleas 
ant  days,  Captain  Wallingford.  I  say  nothing  ag'in  these ;  tut 
them  'ere  were  pleasant  times,  as  all  in  the  Crisis  must  allow." 

"  Perhaps  we  shall  think  the  same  of  these  some  five  or  six 
years  hence." 

"  Well,  that's  natur',  I  must  confess.  It's  amazing  how  the 
last  v'yage  hangs  in  a  man's  memory,  and  how  little  we  think 
of  the  present !  I  suppose  the  Lord  made  us  all  of  this  dispo 
sition,  for  it's  sartain  we  all  manifest  it.  Come,  bear  a  hand, 
Neb,  on  that  fore-yard,  and  let  us  see  the  length  of  the  stun-sail 
boom." 

But  Neb,  contrary  to  his  habits,  stood  upright  on  the  yard, 
holding  on  by  the  lift,  and  looking  over  the  weather-leach  of 
the  topsail,  apparently  at  some  object  that  either  was  just  then 
visible,  or  which  had  just  before  been  visible. 

"  What  is  it  ?"  cried  Marble,  struck  with  the  black's  attitude 
and  manner.  "  What  d'ye  see  ?" 

"  I  don't  see  him  now,  sir ;  nuttin'  now ;  but  dere  was  a 
ship." 

"  Where-away  ?"  I  demanded. 

"  Off,  here,  Masser  Mile — larboard  bow,  well  forrard ;  look 
sharp,  and  soon  see  him,  yourself,  sir." 

Sharp  enough  we  did  look,  all  hands  of  us  on  deck,  and,  in 
leas  than  a  minute,  we  caught  a  pretty  good  view  of  the  stranger 
from  the  forecastle.  He  might  have  been  visible  to  us  half  a 
minute,  in  one  of  those  momentary  openings  in  the  inist,  that 


MILE  S      W  A  L  I.  I  N  G  F  O  R  D  .  1  93 

were  constantly  occurring,  and  -which  enabled  the  eye  to  com 
mand  a  range  around  the  ship  of  half  a  mile,  losing  it  again, 
however,  almost  as  soon  as  it  was  obtained.  Notwithstanding 
the  distance  of  time,  I  can  perfectly  recall  the  appearance  of 
that  vessel,  seen  as  she  was,  for  a  moment  only,  and  seen  too  so 
unexpectedly.  It  was  a  frigate,  as  frigates  then  were ;  or  a  ship 
of  that  medium  size  between  a  heavy  sloop-of-war  and  a  two- 
decker,  which,  perhaps,  offers  the  greatest  proportions  for  activ 
ity  and  force.  We  plainly  saw  her  cream-colored,  or  as  it  is 
more  usual  to  term  it,  her  yellow  streak,  dotted  with  fourteen 
ports,  including  the  bridle,  and  gleaming  brightly  in  contrast  to 
the  dark  and  glistening  hull,  over  which  the  mist  and  the  spray 
of  the  ocean  cast  a  species  of  sombre  lustre.  The  stranger  was 
under  his  three  topsails,  spanker,  and  jib,  each  of  the  former 
sails  being  double  reefed.  His  courses  were  in  the  brails.  As 
the  wind  did  not  blow  hard  enough  to  bring  a  vessel  of  any  size 
to  more  than  one  reef,  even  on  a  bowline,  this  short  canvas 
proved  that  the  frigate  was  on  her  cruising  ground,  and  was 
roaming  about  in  quest  of  any  thing  that  might  offer.  This 
was  just  the  canvas  to  give  a  cruiser  a  wicked  look,  since  it  de 
noted  a  lazy  preparation,  which  might,  in  an  instant,  be  im 
proved  into  mischief.  As  all  cruising  vessels,  when  on  their 
stations  doing  nothing,  reef  at  night,  and  the  hour  was  still  early, 
it  was  possible  we  had  made  this  ship  before  her  captain,  or 
first  lieutenant,  had  made  his  appearance  on  deck.  There  she 
was,  at  all  events,  dark,  lustrous,  fair  in  her  proportions,  her 
yards  looming  square  and  symmetrical,  her  canvas  damp,  but 
stout  and  new,  the  copper  bright  as  a  tea-kettle,  resembling  a 
new  cent,  her  hammock-cloths  with  the  undress  appearance  this 
part  of  a  vesscl-of-war  usually  offers  at  night,  and  her  quarter 
deck  and  forecastle  guns  frowning  through  the  lanyards  of  her 
lower  ringing,  like  so  many  slumbering  bull-dogs  muzzled  in  their 
kennels. 

The  frigate  was  on  an  easy  bowline,  or,  to  speak  more  cor 
rectly,  was  standing  directly  across  our  fore-foot,  with  her  yards 
yearly  square.    In  a  very  few  minute?,  each  keeping  her  present 
D 


194  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

course,  the  two  ships  would  have  passed  within  pistol-shot  of 
each  other.  I  scarce  knew  the  nature  of  the  sudden  impulse 
which  induced  me  to  call  out  to  the  man  at  the  wheel  to  starboard 
his  helm.  It  was  probably  from  instinctive  apprehension  that  it 
were  better  for  a  neutral  to  have  as  little  to  do  with  a  belligerent 
as  possible,  mingled  with  a  presentiment  that  I  might  lose  some 
of  my  people  by  impressment.  Call  out  I  certainly  did,  and  the 
Dawn's  bows  came  up  to  the  wind,  looking  to  the  westward,  or 
in  a  direction  contrary  to  that  in  which  the  frigate  was  running, 
as  her  yards  were  square,  or  nearly  so.  As  soon  as  the  weathcr- 
leeches  touched,  the  helm  was  righted,  and  away  we  went  with 
the  wind  abeam,  with  about  as  much  breeze  as  we  wanted  for 
the  sail  we  carried. 

The  Dawn  might  have  been  half  a  mile  to  windward  of  the 
frigate  when  this  manoeuvre  was  put  in  execution.  We  were 
altogether  ignorant  whether  our  own  ship  had  been  seen,  but 
the  view  we  got  of  the  stranger  satisfied  us  that  he  was  an  Eng 
lishman.  Throughout  the  whole  of  the  long  wars  that  succeeded 
the  French  Revolution,  the  part  of  the  ocean  which  lay  off  the 
chops  of  the  Channel  was  vigilantly  watched  by  the  British,  and 
it  Avas  seldom,  indeed,  a  vessel  could  go  over  it,  without  meet 
ing  more  or  less  of  their  cruisers. 

I  was  not  without  a  hope  that  the  two  ships  would  pass  eacli 
other  without  our  being  seen.  The  mist  became  very  thick  just 
as  we  hauled  up,  and  had  this  change  of  course  taken  place  after 
we  were  shut  in,  the  chances  were  greatly  in  favor  of  its  being 
effected.  Once  distant  a  mile  from  the  frigate,  there  was  little 
danger  of  her  getting  a  glimpse  of  us,  since,  throughout  all  that 
morning,  I  was  satisfied  we  had  not  got  a  horizon  with  that 
much  of  diameter. 

As  a  matter  of  course  the  preparations  with  the  studding-sails 
Avcre  suspended.  Neb  was  ordered  to  lay  aloft,  as  high  as  the 
cross-trees,  and  to  keep  a  vigilant  look-out,  while  all  eyes  on 
deck  were  watching  as  anxiously  in  the  mist,  as  we  had  for 
merly  watched  for  the  shadowy  outline  of  la  Dame  de  Nantes. 
Marble's  long  experience  told  him  best  where  to  look,  and  he 


MILES     "W  ALLIN  GFO  RD.  195 

caught  the  next  view  of  the  frigate.  She  was  directly  under 
our  lee,  gliding  easily  along  under  the  same  canvas ;  the  reefs 
still  in,  the  courses  in  the  brails,  and  the  spanker  rolled  up,  as 
it  had  been  for  the  night. 

"  By  George,"  cried  the  mate,  "  all  them  Johnny  Bulls  are 
still  asleep,  and  they  haven't  sceu  us !  If  we  can  give  this  fel 
low  the  slip,  as  we  did  the  old  Leander,  Captain  Wallingford, 
the  Dawn  will  become  as  famous  as  the  Flying  Dutchman  !  Sec, 
there  he  jogs  on  as  if  going  to  mill  or  to  church,  and  no  more 
stir  aboard  him  than  there  is  in  a  Quaker  meetiu' !  How  my 
good  old  soul  of  a  mother  would  enjoy  this !" 

There  the  frigate  went,  sure  enough,  without  the  smallest  sign 
of  any  alarm  having  been  given  on  board  her.  The  vessels  had 
actually  passed  each  other,  and  the  mist  was  thickening  again. 
Presently  the  veil  was  drawn,  and  the  form  of  that  beautiful 
ship  was  entirely  hid  from  sight.  Marble  rubbed  his  hands  with 
delight,  and  all  our  people  began  to  joke  at  the  expense  of  the 
Englishman.  "  If  a  merchantman  could  see  a  man-of-war,"  it 
was  justly  enough  said,  "  a  man-of-war  ought  certainly  to  see  a 
merchantman."  Her  look-outs  must  have  all  been  asleep,  or  it 
would  not  have  been  possible  for  us  to  pass  so  near,  under  the 
canvas  we  carried,  and  escape  undiscovered.  Most  of  the  Dawn's 
crew  were  native  Americans,  though  there  were  four  or  five 
Europeans  among  them.  Of  these  last,  one  was  certainly  an 
Englishman,  and,  as  I  suspected,  a  deserter  from  a  public  ship ; 
and  the  other,  beyond  all  controversy,  was  a  plant  of  the  Emer 
ald  Isle.  These  two  men  were  particularly  delighted,  though 
well  provided  with  those  veracious  documents  called  protections 
— which,  like  beggars'  certificates,  never  told  any  thing  but 
truth,  though,  like  beggars'  certificates,  they  not  unfrcquently 
fitted  one  man  as  well  as  another.  It  was  the  well-established 
laxity  in  the  character  of  this  testimony,  that  gave  the  English 
officers  something  like  a  plausible  pretext  for  disregarding  all 
evidence  in  the  premises.  Their  mistake  was  in  supposing  they 
had  a  right  to  make  a  man  prove  any  thing  on  board  a  foreign 
ship ;  while  that  of  America  was,  in  permitting  her  citizens  to 


100  MILES      WALLINOFOHD. 

be  arraigned  before  foreign  judges,  under  any  conceivable  cir 
cumstances.  If  England  wanted  her  own  men,  let  licr  keep  them 
within  her  own  jurisdiction,  not  attempt  to  follow  them  into  the 
jurisdiction  of  neutral  states. 

Well,  the  sldp  had  passed  ;  and  I  began  myself  to  fancy  that 
we  were  quit  of  a  troublesome  neighbor,  when  Neb  came  down 
the  rigging,  in  obedience  to  an  order  from  the  mate. 

"Relieve  the  wheel.  Master  Clawbonny,"  said  Marble,  who 
often  gave  the  negro  his  patronymic ;  "  we  may  want  some  of 
your  touches,  before  we  reach  the  foot  of  the  dance.  Which 
way  was  John  Bull  travelling  when  you  last  saw  him  ?" 

"  He  goin'  eastward,  sir."  Neb  was  never  half  as  much 
"  nigger"  at  sea,  as  when  he  was  on  shore — there  being  some 
thing  in  his  manly  calling  that  raised  him  nearer  to  the  dignit) 
of  white  men.  "  But,  sir,  he  was  gettin'  his  people  ready  to 
make  sail." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ?  No  such  thing,  sir ;  all  hands 
were  asleep,  taking  their  second  naps." 

"  Well,  you  see,  Misser  Marble  ;  den  you  know,  sir." 

Neb  grinned  as  he  said  this ;  and  I  felt  persuaded  he  had 
seen  something  that  he  understood,  but  which  very  possibly  he 
could  not  explain  ;  though  it  clearly  indicated  that  John  Bull 
was  not  asleep.  WTe  were  not  left  long  in  doubt  on  this  head. 
The  mist  opened  again,  and,  distant  from  us  about  three  quar 
ters  of  a  mile,  bearing  on  our  lee-quarter,  we  got  another  look 
at  the  frigate,  and  a  look  that  satisfied  everybody  what  she  was 
about.  The  Englishman  was  in  stays,  in  the  very  act  of  haul 
ing  his  head-yards,  a  certain  sign  he  was  a  quick  and  sure-work 
ing  fellow,  since  this  manoeuvre  had  been  performed  against  a 
smart  sea,  and  under  double-reefed  topsails.  He  must  have 
made  us,  just  as  we  lost  sight  of  him,  and  was  about  to  shake 
out  his  reefs. 

On  this  occasion,  the  frigate  may  have  been  visible  from  our 
decks  three  minutes.  I  watched  all  her  movements,  as  the  cat 
watches  the  mouse.  In  the  first  place  her  reefs  were  shaken 
out,  as  the  ship's  bows  fell  off  far  enough  to  get  the  sea  on  the 


MILES     AYALLINGFORD.  197 

right  side  of  them,  and  her  topsails  appeared  to  me  to  be  mast 
headed  by  instinct,  or  as  the  bird  extends  its  -wings.  The  fore 
and  main-topgallant-sails  were  fluttering  in  the  breeze  at  this 
very  moment — it  blew  rather  too  fresh  for  the  mizzen — and  then 
their  bosoms  were  distended,  and  their  bowlines  hauled.  How 
the  fore  and  main-tacks  got  aboard  I  could  not  tell,  though  it 
was  done  while  my  eyes  Avere  on  the  upper  sails.  I  caught  a 
glimpse  of  the  fore-sheet,  however,  as  the  clew  was  first  flapping 
violently,  and  then  was  brought  under  the  restraint  of  its  own 
proper,  powerful  purchase.  The  spanker  had  been  hauled  out 
previously,  to  help  the  ship  in  tacking. 

There  was  no  mistaking  all  this.  We  were  seen,  and  chased ; 
every  thing  on  board  the  frigate  being  instantly  and  accurately 
trimmed,  "  full  and  by."  She  looked  up  into  our  wake,  and  I 
knew  must  soon  overtake  a  heavily-laden  ship  like  the  Dawn, 
in  the  style  in  which  she  was  worked  and  handled.  Under  the 
circumstances,  therefore,  I  motioned  Marble  to  follow  me  aft, 
where  we  consulted  together  touching  our  future  proceedings. 
I  confess  I  Avas  disposed  to  shorten  sail,  and  let  the  cruiser  come 
alongside ;  but  Marble,  as  usual,  was  for  holding  on. 

"  We  are  bound  to  Hamburg,"  said  the  mate,  "  which  lies, 
hereaway,  on  our  lee-beam,  and  no  man  has  a  right  to  complain 
of  our  steering  our  course.  The  mist  has  shut  the  frigate  in  again, 
and,  it  being  very  certain  he  will  overhaul  us  on  a  bowline,  I  ad 
vise  you,  Miles,  to  lay  the  yards  perfectly  square,  edge  away  two 
points  more,  and  set  the  weather  stun'-sails.  If  we  do  not  open 
J  ohn  very  soon  again,  we  may  be  off  three  or  four  miles  to  lee 
ward  before  he  Icarus  where  we  are,  and  then,  you  know,  a 
'  starn  chase'  is  always  a  '  long  chase.'  " 

This  was  good  advice,  and  I  determined  to  follow  it.  It 
l>l«!\v  rather  fresh  at  the  instant,  and  the  Dawn  began  to  plunge 
through  the  seas  at  a  famous  rate  as  soon  as  she  felt  the  drag 
of  the  studding-sails.  We  were  now  running  on  a  course  that 
made  an  obtuse  angle  with  that  of  the  frigate,  and  there  was 
the  possibility  of  so  far  increasing  our  distance  as  to  get  beyond 
the  range  of  the  openings  of  the  mist,  ere  our  expedient  were 


198  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

discovered.  So  long  did  the  density  of  the  atmosphere  con 
tinue,  indeed,  that  my  hopes  were  beginning  to  be  strong,  just 
as  one  of  our  people  called  out  "  the  frigate  !"  This  time  she 
was  seen  directly  astern  of  us,  and  nearly  two  miles  distant ! 
Such  had  been  our  gain,  that  ten  minutes  longer  would  have 
carried  us  clear.  As  we  now  saw  her,  I  felt  certain  she  would 
soon  see  us,  eyes  being  on  the  look-out  on  board  her,  beyond  a 
question.  Nevertheless,  the  cruiser  was  still  on  a  bowline, 
standing  on  the  course  on  which  we  had  been  last  seen. 

This  lasted  but  a  moment,  however.  Presently  the  English 
man's  bow  fell  off,  and  by  the  time  he  was  dead  before  the 
wind,  we  could  see  his  studding-sails  flapping  in  the  air,  as  they 
were  in  the  act  of  being  distended,  by  means  of  halyards,  tacks 
and  sheets  all  going  at  once.  The  mist  shut  in  the  ship  again 
before  all  this  could  be  executed.  What  was  to  be  done  next  ? 
Marble  said,  as  we  were  not  on  our  precise  course,  it  might 
6crve  a  good  turn  to  bring  the  wind  on  our  starboard  quarter, 
set  all  the  studding-sails  we  could  carry  on  the  same  side,  and 
run  off  east-north-east :  I  inclined  to  this  opinion,  and  the  nec 
essary  changes  were  made  forthwith.  The  wind  and  mist  in 
creased,  and  away  we  went,  on  a  diverging  line  from  the  course 
of  the  Englishman,  at  the  rate  of  quite  ten  knots  in  the  hour. 
This  lasted  fully  forty  minutes,  and  all  hands  of  us  fancied  we 
had  at  last  given  the  cruiser  the  slip.  Jokes  and  chuckling 
flew  about  among  the  men,  as  usual,  and  everybody  began  to 
feel  as  happy  as  success  could  make  us,  when  the  dark  veil  lift 
ed  at  the  south-west ;  the  sun  was  seen  struggling  through  the 
clouds,  the  vapor  dispersed,  and  gradually  the  whole  curtain 
which  had  concealed  the  ocean  throughout  that  morning  arose, 
extending  the  view  around  the  ship,  little  by  little,  until  nothing 
'imited  it  but  the  natural  horizon. 

The  anxiety  with  which  we  watched  this  slow  rising  of  the 
curtain  need  scarcely  be  described.  Every  eye  was  turned 
eagerly  in  the  direction  in  which  its  owner  expected  to  find  the 
frigate,  and  great  was  our  satisfaction  as  mile  after  mile  opened 
in  the  circle  around  us,  Avithout  bringing  her  beautiful  proper- 


MILES     WALLINGFOUD.  199 

tions  within  its  range.  But  this  could  not  last  forever,  there 
not  being  sufficient  time  to  carry  so  largs  a  vessel  over  the  cur 
vature"  of  the  ocean's  surface.  As  usual,  Marble  saw  hev  first. 
She  had  fairly  passed  to  leeward  of  us,  and  w:ts  quite  two  leagues 
distant,  driving  ahead  with  the  speed  of  a  race-horse.  With  a 
clear  horizon,  an  open  ocean,  a  stiff  breeze,  and  hours  of  day 
light,  it  was  hopeless  to  attempt  escape  from  as  fast  a  vessel  as 
the  stranger,  and  I  now  determined  to  put  the  Dawn  on  her  true 
course,  and  trust  altogether  to  the  goodness  of  rny  cause ;  heels 
being  out  of  the  qiicstion.  The  reader  who  will  do  me  the 
favor  to  peruse  the  succeeding  chapter,  will  learn  the  result  of 
this  resolution. 


200  MILK  a      AV  A  L  L  I  N  OFO  E  D. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

"Whom  liavo  we  hero?  Buckingham,  to  disturb  me  ? 
The  king  hath  sent  him,  euro:  I  must  dissemble." 

KING  IlEXKit  V  L 

AT  first,  the  frigate  took  single  reefs  in  licr  topsails,  set  top 
gallant-sails  over  them,  and  hauled  up  on  taut  bowlines.  But 
seeing  no  signs  of  our  studding-sails  coming  down,  she  shook 
out  her  reefs,  squared  her  yards,  set  topmast  studding-sails,  and 
kept  off  to  a  course  that  would  be  certain  to  intercept  us.  She 
was  up  on  our  line  of  sailing  some  little  time  before  we  got 
down  to  her,  and  she  kept  standing  off  and  on,  hauling  up  her 
courses,  and  furling  her  topgallant-sails,  and  hauling  down  all 
of  her  light  sails,  the  jib  cxccpted.  As  for  the  Dawn,  she  kept 
steadily  on,  carrying  every  thing  she  could  bear.  We  had  top 
mast  and  lower  studding-sails,  and  not  a  tack  or  sheet  had  been 
touched  when  we  got  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  frigate. 
The  Englishman  now  showed  his  colors,  when  we  let  him  sec 
the  stars  and  stripes.  Still  no  sail  was  touched  on  board  us. 
As  if  surprised  at  our  obstinacy,  John  Bull  let  fly  a  chase-gun, 
taking  good  care  not  to  send  the  shot  very  near  us.  I  thought, 
it  time,  now,  to  shorten  sail  and  to  pretend  to  sec  him.  We 
began  to  haul  down  our  studding-sails,  merchant-fashion,  and 
were  fairly  alongside  of  the  frigate  before  even  this  preliminary 
step  to  heaving-to  was  effected.  As  we  approached,  the  frigate 
bore  up,  and  ran  off  in  company  with  us,  keeping  a  hundred 
fathoms  distance  from  us,  and  watching  us  closely.  At  this  in 
stant,  I  ordered  the  topgallant-sails  settled  on  the  caps,  as  a 
sign  we  intended  to  let  him  board  us. 

At  length,  having  reduced  the  sail  to  the  three  topsails, 
reefed,  I  hovc-to  the  Dawn,  and  waited  for  a  visit  from  the 


MILES      WALLING  FOIID.  201 

Englishman's  boat.  As  soon  as  the  frigate 'saw  us  fairly  mo 
tionless,  she  shot  up  on  our  weather-quarter,  half  a  cable's  length 
distant,  swung  her  long,  saucy -looking  yards,  and  lay-to  herself. 
At  the  same  instant  her  lee-quarter  boat  dropped  into  the  water, 
with  the  crew  in  it,  a  boy  of  a  midshipman  scrambled  down  the 
ship's  side  and  entered  it  also,  a  lieutenant  followed,  Avhen  away 
-the  cockle  of  a  thing  swept  on  the  crest  of  a  sea,  and  was  soon 
pulling  round  under  our  stern.  I  stood  on  the  lee-quarter,  ex 
amining  my  visitors,  as  they  struggled  against  the  swell,  in 
order  to  get  a  boat-hook  into  our  main-chains.  The  men  were 
like  any  other  man-of-war' s-mcn,  neat,  sturdy,  and  submissive  ir, 
air.  The  reefer  was  a  well-dressed  boy,  evidently  a  gentleman's 
son  ;  but  the  lieutenant  was  one  of  those  old  weather-beaten 
sea-dogs  who  are  seldom  employed  in  boats  unless  something 
more  than  common  is  to  be  done.  He  was  a  man  of  forty, 
hard-featured,  pock-marked,  red-faced,  and  scowling.  I  after 
ward  ascertained  he  was  the  son  of  some  underling  about  the 
Portsmouth  dock-yard,  who  had  worked  his  way  up  to  a  lieu 
tenancy,  and  owed  his  advancement  principally  to  his  readiness 
in  impressing  seamen.  His  name  was  Sennit. 

We  threw  Mr.  Sennit  a  rope,  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  Mar 
ble  met  him  at  the  gangway  with  the  usual  civilities.  I  was 
amused  with  the  meeting  between  these  men,  who  had  strictly 
that  analogy  to  each  other  which  is  well  described  as  "  diamond 
cut  diamond."  Each  was  dogmatical,  positive,  and  full  of  nau 
tical  conceit,  in  his  own  fashion ;  and  each  hated  the  other's  coun 
try  as  heartily  as  man  could  hate,  while  both  despised  French 
men.  But  Sennit  knew  a  mate  from  a  master,  at  a  glance ;  and, 
without  noticing  Marble's  sea-bow,  a  slight  for  which  Marble 
did  not  soon  forgive  him,  he  walked  directly  aft  to  me,  not  well 
pleased,  as  I  thought,  that  a  shipmaster  had  neglected  to  be 
at  the  gangway  to  meet  a  sea  lieutenant. 

"  Your  servant,  sir,"  commenced  Mr.  Sennit,  condescending 
to  notice  my  bow ;  "  your  servant,  sir ;  I  suppose  we  owe  the 
pleasure  of  your  company,  just  now,  to  the  circumstance  of  the 
weather's  clcarino-." 


202  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

Tliis  sounded  hostile  from  the  go  off;  and  I  was  determined 
to  give  as  good  as  I  received. 

"  Quite  likely,  sir,"  was  my  answer,  uttered  as  coolly  as  I 
could  speak — "  I  do  not  think  you  got  much  the  advantage,  aa 
long  as  there  Avas  thick  weather." 

"  Ay,  you're  a  famous  fellow  at  hide  and  go  seek,  and  I  dc 
not  douht  would  make  a  long  chase  in  a  dark  night.  But  his 
Majesty's  ship  Speedy  is  not  to  be  dodged  by  a  Yankee." 

"  So  it  would  seem,  sir,  by  your  present  success." 

"  Men  seldom  run  away  without  there  is  a  cause  for  it.  It's 
my  business  to  find  out  the  reason  why  you  have  attempted  it ; 
so,  sir,  I  will  thank  you  for  the  name  of  your  ship,  to  begin 
with." 

"  The  Dawn,  of  New  York." 

"  Ay,  full-blooded  Yankee — I  knew  you  were  New  England, 
by  your  tricks." 

"  New  York  is  not  in  New  England ;  nor  do  we  call  a  New 
York  ship  a  Yankee,"  put  in  Marble. 

"  Ay,  ay — if  one  were  to  believe  all  you  mates  from  the 
t'other  side,  say,  he  would  soon  fancy  that  King  George  held 
his  throne  by  virtue  of  a  commission  from  President  Washing 
ton." 

"  President  Washington  is  dead,  Heaven  bless  him !"  re 
torted  Marble,  "  and  if  one  were  to  believe  half  of  what  you 
English  say,  he  would  soon  fancy  that  President  Jefferson  held 
his  office  as  one  of  Bang  George's  waiting-men." 

I  made  a  sign  for  Marble  to  be  silent,  and  intimated  to  the 
lieutenant  I  was  ready  to  answer  any  further  inquiries  he 
wished  to  make.  Sennit  did  not  proceed,  however,  without 
giving  a  significant  look  at  the  mate,  which  to  me,  seemed  to 
say,  "  I  have  pressed  a  mate  in  my  time." 

"  Well,  sir,  the  Dawn,  of  New  York,"  he  continued,  noting 
the  name  in  his  pocket-book.  "  How  are  you  called  yourself?" 

"  The  Dawn,  of  New  York,  Miles  Wallingford,  master." 

"  Miles  Wallingford,  master.  Where  from,  whither  bound, 
and  with  what  laden  ?" 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  203 

"  From  New  York  ;  bound  to  Hamburg  ;  cargo  sugars,  coffee, 
and  cochineal." 

"A  very  valuable  cargo,  sir,"  observed  Mr.  Sennit,  a  little 
dryly.  "  I  wish  for  your  sake  it  had  been  going  to  any  other 
part  of  the  world,  as  this  last  war  has  sent  the  French  into  that 
part  of  Germany,  and  Hamburg  is  suspected  of  being  rather  too 
much  under  Boncy's  influence." 

"  And  were  we  bound  to  Bordeaux,  sir,  what  power  have  you 
*c  stop  a  neutral  at  this  distance  at  sea  ?" 

"  If  you  put  it  on  power,  Mr.  Wallingford,  you  depend  on  a 
crutch  that  will  betray  you.  We  have  power  enough  to  eat  you, 
should  that  be  necessary.  I  suppose  you  mean  right." 

"  I  shall  not  dispute  with  you,  sir,  about  words." 

"  Well,  to  prove  to  you  that  I  am  as  amicably  disposed  as 
yourself,  I  will  say  no  more  on  the  subject.  With  your  per 
mission,  I  will  now  examine  your  papers ;  and  to  show  you  that 
I  feel  myself  among  friends,  I  will  first  send  my  own  boat  back 
to  the  Speedy." 

I  was  infinitely  disgusted  with  this  man's  manner.  It  had 
the  vulgar  sort  of  witticism  about  even  his  air,  that  he  so  much 
affected  in  his  speech — the  Avhole  being  deformed  by  a  species 
of  sly  malignancy,  that  rendered  him  as  offensive  as  he  seemed 
to  me  to  be  dangerous.  I  could  not  refuse  to  let  a  belligerent 
look  at  my  papers,  however,  and  went  below  to  get  them,  while 
Sennit  gave  some  private  orders  to  his  reefer,  and  sent  him  away 
to  his  frigate. 

While  on  this  subject,  the  reader  must  excuse  an  old  man's 
propensity  to  gossip,  if  I  say  a  word  on  the  general  question  of 
the  right  of  search.  As  for  the  pretence  that  was  set  up  by 
some  of  the  advocates  of  impressment  out  of  neutral  ships, 
which  laid  down  the  position,  that  the  belligerent  being  on 
board  in  the  exercise  of  an  undoubted  right  to  inquire  into  the 
character  of  the  ship  and  cargo,  he  took  with  him  the  right  to 
lay  hands  on  all  the  subjects  of  his  own  sovereign  he  might  hap 
pen  to  find  there,  it  is  not  worthy  of  a  serious  reply.  Because 
u  man  has  a  right  to  take  the  step  preliminary  to  the  discharge 


204  MILES      Vf  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  li  D . 

of  an  admitted  power,  as  an  incident  of  that  power,  it  does  nol 
follow  that  he  can  make  the  incident  a  principle,  and  convert  it 
into  a  justification  of  acts,  unlawful  in  themselves.  On  this 
head,  therefore,  I  shall  say  nothing,  holding  it  to  be  beyond 
dispute  among  those  who  arc  competent  to  speak  on  the  subject 
at  all.  But  the  abuse  of  that  admitted  power  to  board  and  as 
certain  the  character  of  a  ship,  has  created  so  lively  a  feeling  in 
us  Americans,  as  to  induce  us  to  forego  some  of  the  wholesome 
principles  that  are  necessary  to  the  well-being  of  all  civilized 
nations.  It  is  thus,  in  my  judgment,  that  we  have  quite  recent 
ly  and  erroneously  laid  down  the  doctrine  that  foreign  vessels-of- 
war  shall  not  board  American  ships  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  in  a 
time  of  peace,  in  order  to  ascertain  their  character. 

On  this  subject  I  intend  to  speak  plainly.  In  the  first  place, 
I  lay  no  claim  to  that  spurious  patriotism  which  says,  "  our 
country,  right  or  wrong."  This  may  do  for  the  rabble,  but  it 
will  not  do  for  God,  to  whom  our  first  and  highest  obligations 
arc  due.  Neither  country  nor  man  can  justify  that  which  is 
wrong,  and  I  conceive  it  to  be  wrong,  in  a  political  if  not  in  a 
moral  sense,  to  deny  a  vessel-of-war  the  privilege  which  Eng 
land  here  claims.  I  can  see  but  one  plausible  argument  against 
it,  and  that  is  founded  on  the  abuses  which  may  arise  from  the 
practice.  But  it  will  not  do  to  anticipate  abuses  in  this  instance 
more  than  in  any  other.  Every  right,  whether  national  or  in 
ternational,  may  be  abused  in  its  exercise,  and  the  argument,  if 
good  for  any  thing,  is  as  good  against  every  other  right  of  inter 
national  law  as  it  is  against  this.  Abuse,  after  it  has  occurred, 
might  be  a  justifiable  reason  for  suspending  the  exercise  of  an 
admitted  right,  until  some  remedies  were  applied  to  prevent 
their  recurrence,  but  it  can  never  be  urged  as  a  proper  argument 
against  the  right  itself.  If  abuses  occur,  we  can  get  them  reme 
died  by  proper  representations,  and  if  these  last  fail,  we  have 
the  usual  appeal  of  nations.  As  well  might  it  be  said,  the  law 
of  the  land  shah1  not  be  administered,  because  the  sheriff's  of 
ficers  arc  guilty  of  abuses,  as  to  say  the  law  of  nations  shall 
cease  because  we  apprehend  that  certain  commercial  rivalries 


MILES     WALLIKGFORD.  205 

may  induce  others  to  transcend  them.  When  the  wrong  is  done 
it  will  be  time  enough  to  seek  the  remedy. 

That  it  is  the  rio-ht  of  a  vessel-of-war  to  ascertain  the  charac- 

O 

ter  of  a  ship  at  sea,  is  dependent  on  her  right  to  arrest  a  pirate, 
for  instance.  In  what  manner  can  this  be  done,  if  a  pirate  can 
obtain  impunity  by  simply  hoisting  the  flag  of  some  other 
country,  which  the  cruiser  is  obliged  to  respect  ?  All  that  the 
latter  asks  is  the  power  to  ascertain  if  that  flag  is  not  an  impo 
sition  ;  and  this  much  every  regularly-commissioned  public  ship 
should  be  permitted  to  do,  in  the  interests  of  civilization,  and 
in  maintenance  of  the  police  of  the  seas. 

The  argument  on  the  other  side  goes  the  length  of  saying, 
that  a  public  cruiser  is  in  the  situation  of  a  sheriff's  officer  on 
shore,  who  is  compelled  to  arrest  his  prisoner  on  his  own  re 
sponsibility.  In  the  first  place,  it  may  be  questioned  if  the 
dogma  of  the  common  law,  which  asserts  the  privilege  of  the 
citizen  to  conceal  his  name,  is  worthy  of  a  truly  enlightened 
political  freedom.  It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  liberty  first 
took  the  aspect  of  franchises,  in  which  men  sought  protection 
from  the  abuses  of  power  in  any  manner  they  could,  and  often 
without  regarding  the  justness  of  the  general  principles  with 
which  they  were  connected ;  confusion  in  these  principles  aris 
ing  as  a  consequence.  But,  admitting  the  dogma  of  the  com 
mon  law  to  be  as  inherently  wise  as  it  is  confessedly  a  practice, 
there  is  no  parallel  in  the  necessity  of  the  case  of  an  arrest  on 
shore  and  of  an  arrest  at  sea.  In  the  former  instance,  the  offi 
cer  may  apply  to  -witnesses ;  he  has  the  man  before  him,  and 
compares  him  with  the  description  of  the  criminal ;  and,  should 
he  make  an  erroneous  arrest,  under  misleading  circumstances, 
his  punishment  would  be  merely  nominal — in  many  cases,  noth 
ing.  But  the  common  law,  while  it  gives  the  subject  this  pro 
tection,  docs  not  deny  the  right  of  the  officer  to  arrest.  It  only 
punishes  the  abuse  of  this  power,  and  that  is  precisely  what  na 
tions  ought  to  do,  in  a  case  of  the  abuse  of  the  right  to  examine 
a  merchantman. 

Tli?  vcsscl-of-war  cannot  apply  to  witnesses,  and  cannot  judgo 


200  MILES      WALLINGFOnD. 

of  national  character  by  mere  external  appearances,  since  nn 
American-built  ship  can  be  sailed  by  Portuguese.  The  actual 
necessities  of  the  case  are  in  favor  of  the  present  English  claim, 
as  well  as  that  great  governing  principle,  which  says  that  no 
great  or  principal  right  can  exist,  in  international  law,  without 
carrying  with  it  all  the  subordinate  privileges  which  arc  necessa 
ry  to  its  discreet  exercise. 

Thus  much  I  could  not  refrain  from  saying,  not  that  I  think 
John  Bull  is  very  often  right  in  his  controversies  with  ourselves, 
but  because  I  think,  in  this  case,  he  is ;  and  because  I  believe 
it  far  safer,  in  the  long  run,  for  a  nation,  or  an  individual,  to 
have  justice  on  his  side,  than  always  to  carry  his  point. 

I  was  soon  on  deck,  carrying  my  Avriting-desk  under  my  arm, 
Mr.  Sennit  preferring  to  make  his  examination  in  the  open  air, 
to  making  it  below.  He  read  the  clearance  and  manifest  with 
great  attention.  Afterward  he  asked  for  the  shipping  articles. 
I  could  see  that  he  examined  the  names  of  the  crew  with  eager 
ness,  for  the  man  was  in  his  clement  when  adding  a  new  hand 
to  his  frigate's  crew. 

"  Let  me  see  this  Nebuchadnezzar  Clawbonny,  Mr.  Walling- 
ford,"  he  said,  chuckling.  "  The  name  has  an  alias  in  its  very 
absurdity,  and  I  doubt  not  I  shall  see  a  countryman — perhaps  a 
townsman." 

"  By  turning  your  head,  sir,  you  can  easily  sec  the  man.  He 
is  at  the  wheel." 

"A  black! — umph — yes;  those  fellows  do  sometimes  sail 
under  droll  titles.  I  do  not  think  the  lad  was  born  at  Gosport." 

"  He  was  born  in  my  father's  house,  sir,  and  is  my  slave." 

"  Slave  !  A  pretty  word  in  the  mouth  of  a  free  and  inde 
pendent  son  of  liberty,  Mr.  Wallingford.  It  is  lucky  you  are 
not  bound  to  that  land  of  despotism,  old  England,  or  you  might 
see  the  fetters  fall  from  about  the  chap's  limbs." 

I  was  nettled,  for  I  felt  there  was  some  justice  in  this  sarcasm, 
and  this,  too,  at  the  very  moment  I  felt  it  was  only  half  merited  ; 
and  not  at  all,  perhaps,  from  an  Englishman.  But  Sennit  knew 
as  much  of  the  history  of  my  country  as  he  did  of  his  own,  hav- 


MILES      AVALLINGFORD.  207 

ing  obtained  all  he  had  learned  of  either  out  of  newspapers. 
Nevertheless,  I  succeeded  in  keeping  silent. 

"  Nathan  Hitchcock ;  this  chap  has  a  suspiciously  Yankee 
name ;  will  you  let  me  see  Mm,  sir,"  observed  the  lieutenant. 

"  The  chap's  name,  then,  does  him  no  more  than  justice,  for  I 
believe  he  is  strictly  what  we  call  a  Yankee." 

Nathan  came  aft  at  the  call  of  the  second  mate,  and  Sennit 
no  sooner  saw  him  than  he  told  him  to  go  forward  again.  It 
was  easy  to  see  that  the  man  was  perfectly  able  to  distinguish, 
by  means  of  the  eye  alone,  between  the  people  of  the  two 
countries,  though  the  eye  would  sometimes  deceive  even  the 
most  practised  judges.  As  the  Speedy  was  not  much  in  want 
of  men,  he  was  disposed  not  to  lay  his  hands  on  any  but  his 
own  countrymen. 

"  I  shall  have  to  ask  you,  sir,  to  muster  all  your  people  in  the 
gangway,"  said  Sennit,  rising,  as  he  passed  me  the  ship's  papers. 
"  I  am  only  a  supernumerary  of  the  Speedy,  and  I  expect  we  shall 
soon  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  her  first  on  board,  the  Honora 
ble  Mr.  Powlett.  We  are  a  nob  ship,  having  Lord  Harry  Der- 
mond  for  our  captain,  and  lots  of  younger  sons  in  the  cockpit." 

I  cared  little  who  commanded  or  officered  the  Speedy,  but  I 
felt  all  the  degradation  of  submitting  to  have  my  crew  mustered 
by  a  foreign  officer,  and  this,  too,  with  the  avowed  object  of 
carrying  away  such  portions  of  them  as  he  might  see  fit  to  de 
cide  were  British  subjects.  In  my  judgment  it  would  have 
been  much  more  creditable  and  much  wiser  for  the  young  Her 
cules  to  have  made  an  effort  to  use  his  club,  in  resisting  such  an 
offensive  and  unjustifiable  assumption  of  power,  than  to  be  set 
ting  up  doubtful  claims  to  establish  principles  of  public  law  that 
will  render  the  exercise  of  some  of  the  most  useful  of  all  inter 
national  rights  perfectly  nugatory.  I  felt  a  disposition  to  refuse 
compliance  with  Sennit's  request,  and  did  the  result  only  affect 
myself  I  think  I  should  have  done  so ;  but,  conscious  that  my 
men  would  be  the  sufferers,  I  thought  it  more  prudent  to  com 
ply.  Accordingly,  all  the  Dawn's  people  were  ordered  to  mus 
ter  near  the  quarter-deck. 


208  MILKS      WALLINGFORD. 

While  I  endeavor  to  do  justice  to  principles,  I  wish  to  do 
no  injustice  to  Sennit.  To  own  the  truth,  this  man  picked  out 
the  Englishman  and  Irishman  as  soon  as  each  had  answered  his, 
first  questions.  They  were  ordered  to  get  their  things  ready 
to  go  on  board  the  Speedy,  and  I  was  coolly  directed  to  pay 
them  any  wages  that  might  be  due.  Marble  Avas  standing  near 
when  this  command  was  given ;  and  seeing  disgust,  most  likely, 
in  my  countenance,  he  took  on  himself  the  office  of  replying. 

"  You  think  accounts  should  be  balanced,  then,  before  these 
men  quit  the  ship  ?"  he  asked,  significantly. 

"  I  do,  sir ;  and  it's  my  duty  to  see  it  done.  I  will  thank 
you  to  attend  to  it  at  once,"  returned  the  lieutenant. 

"  Well,  sir,  that  being  the  case,  we  shall  be  receivers,  instead 
of  payers.  By  looking  at  the  shipping  articles,  you  will  see 
that  each  of  these  men  receive  fifty  dollars,  or  two  months'  ad 
vance,"  (seamen's  wages  were  as  high,  frequently,  in  that  day, 
as  twenty  or  thirty  dollars ;)  "  and  quite  half  of  the  '  dead-horse' 
remains  to  be  worked  out.  We  will,  therefore,  thank  his 
Majesty  to  pay  us  the  odd  twenty-five  dollars  for  each  of  the 
men." 

"  What  countryman  are  you  ?"  demanded  the  lieutenant, 
with  a  menacing  look.  "  Cornish,  by  your  impudence  :  have  a 
care,  sir ;  I  have  carried  off  mates,  before  now,  in  my  day." 

"  I  came  from  the  land  of  tombstones,  which  is  an  advantage ; 
as  I  know7  the  road  we  all  must  travel,  sooner  or  later.  My 
name  is  Marble,  at  your  service ;  and  there's  a  hard  natur'  under 
it,  as  you'll  find  on  trial." 

Just  at  this  moment,  the  frigate's  boat  came  round  her  stern, 
carrying  the  Honorable  Mr.  Powlett,  or  the  gentleman  whom 
Sennit  had  announced  as  her  first  lieutenant.  I  thought  tho 
rising  anger  of  the  last  was  a  little  subdued  by  the  appearance 
of  his  senior  officer ;  social  position  and  private  rank  making 
even  a  greater  difference  between  the  two  than  mere  date  of 
commission.  Sennit  suppressed  his  wrath,  therefore  ;  though  I 
make  no  doubt  the  resentment  he  felt  at  the  contumelious  man 
ner  of  my  mate,  had  no  little  influence  on  what  .subsequently 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  209 

occurred.  As  tilings  were,  ho  waited,  before  lie  proceeded  any 
further,  for  the  Speedy's  boat  to  come  alongside. 

Mr.  Powlett  turned  out  to  be  a  very  different  sort  of  person 
from  his  brother  lieutenant.  There  Avas  no  mistaking  him  for 
any  thing  but  a  gentleman,  or  for  a  sailor.  Beyond  a  question, 
he  owed  his  rank  in  his  ship  to  family  influence,  and  he  was  one 
of  those  scions  of  aristocracy  (by  no  means  the  rule,  however, 
among  the  high-born  of  England)  who  never  was  fit  for  any 
thing  but  a  carpet-knight,  though  trained  to  the  seas.  As  I 
afterward  learned,  his  father  held  high  ministerial  rank ;  a  cir 
cumstance  that  accounted  for  his  being  the  first  lieutenant  of  a 
six-and-thirty,  at  twenty,  with  a  supernumerary  lieutenant  under 
him  who  had  been  a  sailor  some  years  before  he  was  born.  But 
the  captain  of  the  Speedy,  himself,  Lord  Harry  Dermond,  was 
only  four-and-twenty ;  though  he  had  commanded  his  ship  two 
years,  and  fought  one  very  creditable  action  in  her. 

After  making  my  best  bow  to  Mr.  Powlett,  and  receiving  a 
very  gentleman-like  salutation  in  return,  Sennit  led  his  brother 
officer  aside,  and  they  had  a  private  conference  of  some  little 
length  together. 

"  I  shall  not  meddle  with  the  crew,  Sennit,"  I  overheard  Pow 
lett  say,  in  a  sort  of  complaining  tone,  as  he  walked  away  from 
his  companion.  "Really,  I  cannot  become  the  master  of  a 
press-gang,  though  the  Speedy  had  to  be  worked  by  her  officers. 
You  arc  used  to  this  business,  and  I  leave  it  all  to  you." 

I  understood  this  to  bo  a  carte  blancJie  to  Sennit  to  carry  off 
a;j  many  of  my  people  as  ho  saw  fit;  there  being  nothing  novel 
or  surprising  in  men's  tolerating  in  others,  acts  they  would  dis 
dain  to  perform  in  person.  As  soon  as  he  left  his  junior  in 
lank,  the  youthful  first  lieutenant  approached  me.  I  call  him 
youthful,  for  he  appeared  even  younger  than  he  was,  though  I 
myself  had  commanded  a  ship  when  only  of  his  own  age.  It 
was  easy  to  see  that  this  young  man  felt  he  was  employed  on  an 
a  Hair  of  some  importance. 

"  It  is  reported  to  us,  on  board  the  Speedy,  sir,"  the  Hon.  Mr. 
L'owlett  commenced,  "  that  you  are  bound  to  Hamburg." 


210  MILES     W  ALLINGFORD. 

"  To  Hamburg,  sir,  as  my  papers  will  show." 

"  Our  government  regards  all  trade  with  that  part  of  the  con 
tinent  with  great  distrust,  particularly  since  the  late  movements 
of  the  French.  I  really  wish,  sir,  you  had  not  been  bound  to 
Hamburg." 

"  I  believe  Hamburg  is  still  a  neutral  port,  sir ;  and,  if  it  were 
not,  I  do  not  see  why  an  American  should  not  enter  it,  until  act 
ually  blockaded." 

"  Ah  !  these  are  some  of  your  very  peculiar  American  ideas 
on  such  subjects !  I  cannot  agree  with  you,  however,  it  being 
my  duty  to  obey  my  orders.  Lord  Harry  has  desired  us  to  be 
very  rigorous  in  our  examination,  and  I  trust  you  will  under 
stand  we  must  comply,  however  unpleasant  it  may  be,  sir.  I 
understand,  now,  sugar  and  coffee  are  exceedingly  suspicious !" 

"  They  are  very  innocent  things  rightly  iiscd,  as  I  hope  mine 
will  be." 

"  Have  you  any  particular  interest  in  the  cargo,  Captain  Wal- 
lingford?" 

"  Only  that  of  owner,  sir.  Both  ship  and  cargo  are  my  own 
private  property." 

"  And  you  seem  to  be  English,  or  American — for,  I  confess 
myself  unable  to  tell  the  difference  between  the  people  of  the 
two  countries,  though  I  dare  say  there  is  a  very  great  differ 
ence." 

"  I  am  an  American  by  birth,  as  have  been  my  ancestors  for 
generations." 

"  I  declare  that  is  remarkable !  Well,  I  can  see  no  differ 
ence.  But,  if  you  arc  American,  I  do  not  see  why  the  sugar 
and  coffee  arc  not  American,  too.  Lord  Harry,  however,  de 
sired  us  to  be  very  particular  about  these  things,  for  some  reason 
or  other.  Do  you  happen  to  know,  now,  where  this  sugar  greAv?" 

"  The  canes  of  which  it  was  made  grew,  I  believe,  in  St.  Do 
mingo." 

"  St.  Domingo  !     Is  not  that  a  French  island  ?" 

"Certainly,  in  part,  sir;  though  the  Spaniards  and  the  negroes 
dispute  the  possession  with  the  French." 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  211 

"  I  declare  I  must  send  Lord  Harry  word  of  this !  I  am  ex 
ceedingly  sorry,  Captain  Wallingford,  to  detain  your  ship,  but 
my  duty  requires  me  to  send  a  young  gentleman  on  board  the 
Speedy  for  orders." 

As  I  could  urge  no  plausible  objection,  the  young  gentleman 
was  again  sent  back  to  the  frigate.  In  the  mean  time,  Sennit 
had  not  been  idle.  Among  my  crew  were  a  Swede  and  a  Prus 
sian,  and  both  these  men  having  acquired  their  English  in  Lon 
don  or  Liverpool,  he  affected  to  believe  they  Avere  natives  of  the 
old  island,  ordering  them  to  get  their  dunnage  ready  to  go  un 
der  the  pennant.  Neither  of  the  men,  however,  was  disposed  to 
obey  him,  and  when  I  joined  the  group,  leaving  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Powlett  waiting  the  return  of  his  boat,  on  the  quarter-deck,  I 
found  the  three  in  a  warm  discussion  on  the  subject. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is,  Mr.  Wallingford,"  Sennit  cried,  as  I 
approached,  "  we  will  compromise  matters.  Here  are  two  fel 
lows  who  are  Lancashire  men,  if  the  truth  were  known,  that 
pretend  to  be  Norwegians,  or  Fins,  or  to  come  from  some 
other  outlandish  country  or  other,  and  I  wish  to  place  them 
under  his  Majesty's  pennant,  where  they  properly  belong;  as 
they  are  so  reluctant  to  receive  this  honor,  I  will  consent  to  take 
that  fine-looking  Kentish  man,  who  is  Avorth  them  both  put 
together." 

As  this  Avas  said,  Sennit  pointed  to  Tom  Voorhees,  an  ath- 
'ctic,  handsome  young  North  River  man,  of  Dutch  extraction,  a 
felloAV  Avho  had  not  a  drop  of  English  blood  in  his  veins,  and 
the  ablest-bodied  and  the  best  seaman  in  the  Dawn ;  a  fact  that 
the  lieutenant's  nautical  tact  had  not  been  S!OAV  to  detect. 

"  You  are  asking  mo  to  let  you  have  a  man  Avho  Avas  born 
within  ten  miles  of  myself,"  I  answered,  "  and  Avliosc  family  I 
knoAV  to  be  American,  for  near  tAvo  centuries." 

"  Ay,  ay ;  you're  all  of  old  families  in  America,  as  everybody 
knows.  The  chap  is  English  born,  for  a  hundred  guineas  ;  and 
I  could  name  a  spot  in  Kent,  not  ten  miles  distant  from  that 
Avhcre  he  first  saw  the  light.  I  do  not  say,  hoAvever,  you  were 
not  his  neighbor — for  you  have  a  Dover  look,  yourself." 


212  MILES      WALLINGFOttD. 

"  You  might  be  less  disposed  to  pleasantry,  sir,  were  this  a 
thirty-six,  or  were  you  and  I  on  shore." 

Sennit  gave  ine  a  disdainful  look,  and  terminated  tlfc  affair 
by  ordering  Voorhees  to  get  his  chest  ready,  and  to  join  the 
two  other  men  he  had  pressed.  Taking  example,  however,  from 
the  Swede  and  the  Prussian,  Voorhees  walked  away,  using  no 
measures  to  obey.  As  for  myself,  thoroughly  disgusted  with 
this  man,  a  vulgar  rogue,  I  walked  aft  to  the  other  lieutenant, 
who  Avas  only  a  gentleman-like  dunce. 

Mr.  Powlett  now  began  to  converse  of  London ;  and  he  told 
me  how  often  he  had  been  at  the  opera  when  last  in  town — and 
remarked  Avhat  an  exceedingly  delightful  fete  champelrc  was 
lady  somebody's  entertainment  of  that  sort.  This  occupied  us 
until  the  boat  returned,  with  a  very  civil  request  from  the  cap 
tain  of  the  Speedy,  that  I  would  do  him  the  favor  to  pay  him 
a  visit,  bringing  with  me  the  ship's  papers.  As  this  was  what 
no  belligerent  had  a  right  to  demand,  though  privateersmen 
constantly  did  it,  I  could  comply  or  not.  Fancying  it  might 
expedite  matters,  regarding  the  civility  of  the  request  as  a  good 
omen,  and  feeling  a  desire  to  deal  with  principals,  in  an  affair 
that  was  very  needlessly  getting  to  be  serious,  I  consented  to 
go.  Marble  was  called,  and  formally  told  to  take  charge  of  thr 
ship.  I  could  see  a  smile  of  contempt  on  Sennit's  face,  at  this 
little  ceremony,  though  he  made  no  objection  in  terms.  I  hr.d 
expected  that  the  first  lieutenant  would  go  to  the  frigate  with 
me,  but,  after  a  short  consultation  with  his  junior,  the  last  wa^ 
deputed  to  do  me  this  honor. 

Sennit  now  appeared  disposed  to  show  me  every  slight  and 
indignity  it-  was  in  his  power  to  manifest.  Like  all  vulgar- 
minded  men,  he  could  not  refrain  from  maltreating  those  whom 
he  designed  to  injure.  lie  made  me  precede  him  into  the 
boat,  and  went  np  the  Spccdy's  side  first,  himself,  on  reaching 
that  vessel.  His  captain's  conduct  was  very  different.  Lord 
Harry  was  not  a  very  noble  looking  personage,  as  your  wor 
shippers  of  rank  imagine  nobility  to  appear,  but  he  was  decid 
edly  well-manucrcd ;  and  it  was  easy  enough  to  see  he  com- 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  21  '5 

inanclcd  his  own  ship,  and  was  admirably  fitted  so  to  do.  I 
have  had  occasion  to  learn  that  there  is  a  vast  deal  of  aristo 
cratic  and  democratic  cant,  on  the  subject  of  the  appearance, 
abilities  qualities,  and  conduct  of  Europeans  of  birth  and  station. 
In  the  first  place,  nature  has  made  them  very  much  as  she  makes 
other  people ;  and  the  only  physical  difference  there  is  proceeds 
from  habit  and  education.  Then,  as  to  the  enervating  effects 
of  aristocracy,  and  noble  effeminacy,  I  have  seen  ten  times  as 
much  of  it  among  your  counter-jumpers  and  dealers  in  bob- 
binet,  as  I  have  seen  in  the  sons  of  dukes  and  princes ;  and 
in  my  later  days,  circumstances  have  brought  me  much  in  con 
tact  with  many  of  these  last.  Manliness  of  character  is  far  more 
likely  to  be  the  concomitant  of  aristocratic  birth,  than  of  demo 
cratic,  I  am  afraid ;  for,  while  those  who  enjoy  the  first  feel 
themselves  above  popular  opinion,  those  who  possess  the  last 
bow  to  it,  as  the  Asiatic  slave  bows  to  his  master.  I  wish  I 
could  think  otherwise;  but  experience  has  convinced  me  of 
these  facts,  and  I  have  learned  to  feel  the  truth  of  an  axiom 
that  is  getting  to  be  spmewhat  familiar  among  ourselves,  viz., 
"  that  it  takes  an  aristocrat  to  make  a  true  democrat."  Certain 
I  am,  that  all  the  real,  manly,  independent  democrats  I  have 
ever  known  in  America,  have  been  accused  of  aristocracy,  and 
this  simply  because  they  were  disposed  to  carry  out  their  prin 
ciples,  and  not  to  let  that  imperious  sovereign,  "  the  neighbor 
hood,"  play  the  tyrant  over  them.  As  for  personal  merit,  quite 
as  fair  a  proportion  of  talent  is  found  among  the  well-bom  as 
among  the  low ;  and  he  is  but  an  ad  captandum  vulgus  sort  of 
a  philosopher  who  holds  the  contrary  doctrine.  Talleyrand 
was  of  one  of  the  most  ancient  and  illustrious  houses  of  Europe, 
as  was  Turenne ;  Avhile  Mansfield,  Erskinc,  Grey,  Wellington, 
and  a  host  of  Englishmen  of  mark  of  our  time,  come  of  noble 
blood.  No,  no,  the  cause  of  free  institutions  has  much  higher 
and  much  juster  distinctions  to  boast  of,  than  this  imaginary 
superiority  of  the  humbly-born  over  those  who  come  of  ancient 
stock. 

Lord  Harry  Dennond  received  me  just  as  one  of  his  station 


214  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

ought  to  receive  one  of  mine,  politely,  without  in  the  least  com 
promising  his  own  dignity.  There  was  a  good-natured  smile  on 
his  face,  of  which,  at  first,  I  did  not  know  what  to  make.  lie 
had  a  private  conversation  with  Sennit,  too,  but  the  smile  un 
derwent  no  change.  In  the  end,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
it  was  habitual  with  him,  and  meant  nothing.  But,  though 
so  much  disposed  to  smile,  Lord  Harry  Dermond  was  equally 
disposed  to  listen  to  every  suggestion  of  Sennit  that  was  likely 
to  favor  the  main  chance.  Prize  money  is  certainly  a  great 
stain  on  the  chivalry  of  all  navies,  but  it  is  a  stain  with  which 
the  noble  wishes  to  be  as  deeply  dyed  as  the  plebeian.  Human 
nature  is  singularly  homogeneous  on  the  subject  of  money ;  and 
younger-son  nature,  in  the  lands  of  majorats  and  entails,  enjoys 
a  liveliness  of  longing  on  the  subject  that  is  quite  as  conspicuous 
as  the  rapacity  of  the  veriest  plebeian  who  ever  picked  a  pocket. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  Captain  Wallingford,"  Captain  Lord  Harry 
Dermond  observed  to  me,  when  his  private  conference  with  Sen 
nit  was  ended,  and  altogether  superior  to  the  weakness  of  Pow- 
lett,  who  would  have  discussed  the  point,  "  that  it  is  my  duty  to 
send  your  ship  into  Plymouth.  The  French  have  got  such  an 
ascendency  on  the  continent,  that  we  are  obliged  to  use  ev«ry 
act  of  vigilance  to  counteract  them.  Then,  your  cargo  is*  of 
enemy's  growth." 

"  As  for  the  ascendency,  my  lord,  you  will  see  we  Americans 
have  nothing  to  do  with  it ;  and  my  cargo,  being  necessarily  of 
last  year's  crops,  must  have  been  grown  and  manufactured  in  a 
time  of  general  peace.  If  it  were  not,  I  do  not  conceive  it 
would  legalize  my  capture." 

"  We  must  leave  Sir  William  Scott  to  decide  that,  my  good 
sir,"  answered  the  captain,  with  his  customary  smile;  "and 
there  is  no  use  in  our  discussing  the  matter.  An  unpleasant 
duty" — as  if  he  thought  the  chance  of  putting  two  or  three 
thousand  pounds  in  his  pocket,  unpleasant ! — "  an  unpleasant 
duty,  however,  need  not  be  performed  in  a  disagreeable  manner. 
If  you  will  point  out  what  portion  of  your  people  you  could 
wish  to  keep  in  your  ship,  it  shall  be  attended  to.  Of  course, 


M-I  I,  E  8     \V  A  L  L  I  N  0  F  O  K  D.  215 

you  remain  by  your  property  yourself ;  and  I  confess,  whatever 
may  be  clone  with  the  cargo,  I  think  the  ship  will  be  liberated. 
As  the  day  is  advancing,  and  it  will  require  some  little  time  to 
exchange  the  people,  I  should  be  exceedingly  happy  if  you 
would  do  me  the  favor  to  lunch  in  my  cabin." 

This  was  gentlemanly  conduct,  if  it  Avere  not  lawful.  I  could 
foresee  a  plenty  of  evil  consequences  to  myself  in  the  delay, 
though  I  own  I  had  no  great  apprehensions  of  a  condemnation. 
There  was  my  note  to  John  Wallingford  to  meet,  and  two 
months'  detention  might  keep  me  so  long  from  home,  as  to  put 
the  payment  at  maturity  quite  out  of  the  question.  Then  came 
the  mortgage  on  Clawbonny,  with  its  disquieting  pictures ;  and 
I  was  in  any  thing  but  a  good  humor  to  enjoy  Lord  Harry  Der- 
mond's  hospitality.  Still,  I  knew  the  uselessness  of  remon 
strances,  and  the  want  of  dignity  there  would  be  in  repining, 
and  succeeded  in  putting  a  good  face  on  the  matter.  I  simply 
requested  that  my  chief  mate,  the  cook,  and  Neb,  might  be  left 
in  the  Dawn,  submitting  it  to  the  discretion  of  my  captors  to 
take  out  of  her  as  many  of  the  remainder  of  her  people  as  they 
saw  fit.  Lord  Harry  remarked  it  was  not  usual  to  leave  a  mate, 
but  to  oblige  me,  he  would  comply.  The  frigate  would  go  in 
for  water  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight,  when  I  might  depend  on 
having  the  entire  crew,  his  Majesty's  subjects  excepted,  restored 
to  my  command. 


21G  MILES     WALLINGFOIIO. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

"1st  Gent.  What  is  my  ransom,  master?  Let  me  know. 
Mast.  A  thousand  crowns,  or  else  lay  down  your  head. 
Mate.  And  so  much  shall  yon  give,  or  off  goes  yours." 

KING  HENRY  VL 

I  NEVER  saw  a  man 'more  astounded,  or  better  disposed  to  fly 
into  a  passion,  than  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Moses  Oloff  Tun 
Duzcr  Marble,  when  lie  was  told  that  the  Dawn  was  to  be  sent 
into  England,  for  adjudication.  Nothing  kept  his  tongue  with 
in  the  bounds  of  moderation,  and  I  am  far  from  certain  I  might 
not  add  his  fists,  but  my  assurances  he  would  be  sent  on  board 
the  Speedy,  unless  he  behaved  with  prudence.  As  our  people 
Avere  sent  out  of  the  ship,  I  thought,  several  times,  he  would 
break  out  in  open  hostilities ;  and  he  did  actually  propose  to 
me  to  knock  Sennit  down,  and  throw  him  overboard.  With  a 
significant  look,  I  told  him  it  was  not  time  for  this.  The  mate 
now  laid  a  finger  on  his  nose,  winked,  and  from  that  moment  he 
not  only  seemed  cheerful,  but  he  assisted  in  hoisting  in  and  out 
the  different  articles  that  were  exchanged,  in  shifting  the  crews. 

When  all  was  ready,  it  appeared  that  Sennit  was  to  be  our 
prize  master.  Although  a  lieutenant  in  commission,  he  had 
only  been  lent-  to  Lord  Harry  Dermond  by  the  admiral,  in  order 
to  fill  up  the  crc\v  of  that  favored  officer ;  the  Speedy  having 
her  regular  complement  of  lieutenants  without  him.  As  the 
cruise  was  so  nearly  up,  and  the  ship  had  experienced  great  suc 
cess  in  impressing  since  she  sailed,  Sennit  could  be  spared ;  and, 
if  the  truth  were  said,  I  make  no  doubt  his  messmates  in  the 
frigate  were  glad  to  be  rid  of  him,  now  they  had  no  further  oc 
casion  for  his  peculiar  skill  and  services. 

Mr.  Senm't  brought  on  board  with  him,  as  a  prize  crew,  toil 


MILES      WALLINGFOUD.  217 

foremast-men,  besides  a  master's  mate,  of  the  name  of  Diggins. 
Under  ordinary  circumstances,  this  last  dignitary  would  have 
been  of  sufficient  skill  to  take  the  ship  in ;  but  this  was  the 
first  prize  Lord  Harry  had  taken  ;  she  promised  to  be  valuable 
if  condemned ;  and  I  suppose  he  and  his  young,  gentleman-like 
luffs  were  desirous  of  getting  rid  of  their  vulgar  associate.  At 
any  rate,  Messrs.  Sennit  and  Diggins  both  came  on  board  us, 
bag  and  baggage. 

O  OO     O 

The  various  changes,  the  lunch,  and  the  chase  of  the  morn 
ing,  had  so  far  worn  away  the  day,  that  the  two  vessels  did  not 
make  sail  until  four  o'clock,  p.  M.,  when  both  ships  filled  at  the 
same  time  ;  the  Speedy  on  a  wind,  with  two  reefs  in  her  top 
sails,  as  when  first  seen,  to  play  about  for  more  prizes,  and  the 
Dawn  under  studding-sails,  Avith  the  wind  nearly  over  the  taff- 
rail.  When  all  was  ready,  each  ship  started  away  from  the 
vacant  point  on  the  ocean,  where  they  had  been  lying  for  hours, 
moving  on  diverging  lines,  at  a  rate  that  soon  put  a  wide  ex 
panse  of  water  between  them. 

I  felt  the  circumstance  of  being  left  under  the  command  of 
^>uch  a  man  as  Sennit  almost  as  sensibly  as  I  felt  the  loss  of  my 
ship.  He  and  the  mate  established  themselves  in  my  cabin, 
within  the  first  hour,  in  a  way  that  would  have  brought  about 
an  explosion,  had  not  policy  forbade  it,  on  my  part.  Sennit 
even  took  possession  of  my  state-room,  in  which  he  ordered  his 
own  cot  to  be  swung,  and  from  which  he  coolly  directed  my 
mattress  to  be  removed.  As  the  lockers  were  under  locks  and 
keys,  I  permitted  him  to  take  possession  without  a  remon 
strance.  Diggins  stowed  his  bedding  in  Marble's  berth,  leaving 
my  mate  and  myself  to  shift  for  ourselves.  At  a  suggestion 
from  Marble,  I  affected  great  indignation  at  this  treatment, 
directing  Neb  to  clear  away  a  place  in  the  steerage,  in  which  to 
live,  and  to  swing  hammocks  there  for  Marble  and  myself.  This 
movement  had  some  effect  on  Sennit,  who  was  anxious  to  get 
at  the  small  stores;  all  of  which  were  under -good  locks,  and 
locks  that  he  did  not  dare  violate,  under  an  order  from  the  ad 
miralty.  Tt  was,  therefore,  of  much  importance  to  him  to  be- 
10 


218  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

long  to  my  iness ;  and  the  necessity  of  doing  something  to 
appease  ray  resentment  became  immediately  apparent  to  him. 
He  made  some  apologies  for  his  cavalier  conduct,  justifying 
what  he  had  done  on  the  score  of  his  rank  and  the  usages  of 
navies,  and  I  thought  it  prudent  to  receive  his' excuses  in  a  way 
to  avoid  an  open  rupture.  Sennit  was  left  in  possession  of  the 
state-room,  but  I  remained  in  the  steerage ;  consenting,  how 
ever,  to  mess  in  the  cabin.  This  arrangement,  which  was  alto 
gether  premeditated  on  my  part,  gave  me  many  opportunities 
of  consulting  privately  with  Marble ;  and  of  making  sundry 
preparations  for  profiting  by  the  first  occasion  that  should  offer 
to  retake  the  ship.  In  that  day,  recaptures  were  of  pretty  fre 
quent  occurrence ;  and^J  no  sooner  understood  the  Dawn  was 
to  be  sent  in,  than  I  began  to  reflect  on  the  means  of  effecting 
my  purpose.  Marble  had  been  kept  in  the  ship  by  me,  express 
ly  with  this  object. 

I  suppose  the  reader  to  have  a  general  idea  of  the  position  of 
the  vessel,  as  well  as  of  the  circumstances  in  which  she  was 
placed.  We  Avere  just  three  hundred  and  fifty-two  miles  to  the 
southward  and  westward  of  Scilly,  when  I  observed  at  meridian, 
and  the  wind  blowing  fresh  from  the  south-south-west,  there 
was  no  time  to  lose,  did  I  meditate  any  thing  serious  against 
the  prize  crew.  The  first  occasion  that  presented  to  speak  to 
my  mate  offered  while  we  were  busy  together  in  the  steerage 
stowing  away  our  effects,  and  making  such  dispositions  as  we 
could  to  be  comfortable. 

"  "What  think  you,  Moses,  of  this  Mr.  Sennit  and  his  people  ?" 
I  asked,  in  a  low  voice,  leaning  forward  on  a  water-cask,  in  order 
to  get  my  head  nearer  to  that  of  the  mate.  "  They  do  not  look 
like  first-rate  man-of-war' s-men ;  by  activity  and  surprise  could 
we  not  handle  them  ?" 

Marble  laid  a  finger  on  his  nose,  winked,  looked  as  sagacious 
as  ho  knew  how,  and  then  went  to  the  steerage  door,  which 
communicated  with  the  companion-way,  to  listen  if  all  were  safe 
in  that  quarter.  Assured  that  there  was  no  one  near,  Le  com 
municated  his  thoughts  as  follows : 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  219 

"  The  same  idee  has  been  at  work  here,"  he  said,  tapping  his 
forehead  -with  a  fore-finger,  "  and  good  may  come  of  it.  This 
Mr.  Sennit  is  a  cunning  chap,  and  will  want  good  looking  after, 
but  his  mate  drinks  like  a  coal-heaver ;  I  can  see  that  in  his 
whole  face ;  a  top-lantern  is  not  lighter.  He  must  be  handled 
by  brandy.  Then,  a  more  awkward  set  of  long-shore  fellows 
were  never  sent  to  manage  a  square-rigged  craft,  than  these  which 
have  been  sent  from  the  Speedy.  They  must  have  given  us  the 
very  sweepings  of  the  hold." 

"  You  know  how  it  is  with  these  dashing  young  man-of-war 
captains ;  they  keep  all  their  best  materials  for  a  fight.  French 
frigates  are  tolerably  plenty,  they  tell  me,  and  this  Lord  Harry 
Dermond,  much  as  he  loves  sugar  and  coffee,  Avould  like  to  fall 
in  with  a  la  Vigilante,  or  a  la  Diane,  of  equal  force,  far  belter. 
This  is  the  secret  of  his  giving  Sennit  such  a  set  of  raw  ones. 
Besides,  he  supposes  the  Dawn  will  be  at  Plymouth  in  eight-and- 
forty  hours,  as  will  certainly  be  the  case  should  this  wind  stand." 

"The  fellows  are  just  so  many  London  loafers.  (I  have  al 
ways  thought  Marble  had  the  merit  of  bringing  this  word  into 
fashion.)  There  are  but  three  seamen  among  them,  and  they 
are  more  fit  for  a  hospital  than  for  a  lower  yard  or  a  jib-boom." 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  truth,  blended  with  some  exaggera 
tion,  mixed  up  with  this  statement  of  the  mate.  As  a  matter 
of  course,  the  captain  of  the  Speedy  had  not  sent  away  his  best 
men,  though  they  were  not  quite  as  bad  as  Marble,  in  his  desire 
to  overcome  them,  was  disposed  to  fancy.  It  is  true  there  were 
but  three  of  their  number  whom  the  quick  nautical  instinct  of 
the  mate  had  recognized  as  real  seamen,  though  all  had  been 
on  board  ship  long  enough  to  render  them  more  or  less  useful. 

"  Whatever  AVC  do  must  be  done  at  once,"  I  rejoined.  "  We 
are  four  athletic  men,  to  act  against  twelve.  The  odds  are  heavy, 
but  we  shall  have  the  advantage  of  being  picked  men,  and  of 
attacking  by  surprise." 

"  I  wish  you  had  thought  of  asking  to  keep  Voorhees  in  the 
ship,  Miles;  that  fellow  would  be  worth  three  ordinary  men 
to  us." 


220  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

'•  I  did  think  of  it,  but  the  request  would  never  have  been 
granted.  One  could  ask  for  a  cook,  or  a  mate,  or  a  servant  like 
Neb,  but  to  ask  for  an  able  seaman  or  two  would  have  been  to 
declare  our  object." 

"  I  believe  you're  right,  and  we  must  be  thankful  for  the 
good  stuff  we  have,  as  it  is.  llo\v  far  will  the  law  bear  ns  out 
in  knocking  men  on  the  head  in  such  an  undertaking  ?  It's 
peace  for  America,  and  we  must  steer  clear  of  piracy !" 

"  I've  thought  of  all  that,  Moses,  and  see  no  great  cause  of 
apprehension.  A  man  has  certainly  a  right  to  recover  that  by 
the  strong  hand  which  he  lost  by  the  strong  hand.  Should 
blood  be  spilt,  which  I  hope  to  avert,  the  English  courts  might 
judge  us  harshly,  while  the  American  would  acquit  us.  The  law 
would  be  the  same  in  both  cases,  though  its  administration  would 
be  very  different.  I  am  ready  to  cast  my  own  fortune  on  the  issue, 
and  I  wish  no  man  to  join  me  who  will  not  do  so,  heart  and  hand. 
I  see  no  reason  to  suppose  it  Avill  be  necessary  to  take  life,  to 
which  I  have  as  strong  reluctance  as  you  can  have  yourself." 

"  There's  my  hand  !"  exclaimed  Marble,  "  and  as  for  its  own 
er's  heart,  you  well  know  where  that  is  to  be  found,  Miles. 
Enough  has  been  said  for  a  beginning.  We  will  look  about  us 
this  afternoon,  and  talk  further  after  supper." 

"  Good.  Do  you  say  a  word  to  Billings,  the  cook,  and  I 
will  open  the  matter  to  Neb.  Of  the  last  we  are  certain,  but  it 
may  be  well  to  make  some  promises  to  your  man." 

"  Leave  that  to  me,  Miles.  I  know  my  chap,  and  will  deal 
with  him  as  I  would  with  an  owner." 

Marble  and  myself  now  separated,  and  I  went  on  deck  to 
observe  how  things  promised  in  that  quarter.  By  this  time, 
the  Speedy's  topsails  were  beginning  to  dip,  and  the  Dawn  was 
driving  forward  on  her  course,  with  every  thing  drawing  that 
she  could  carry.  All  the  English  were  on  deck,  Sennit  includ 
ed.  The  last  gave  me  a  sufficiently  civil  salute  as  I  put  my  foot 
on  the  quarter-deck,  but  I  avoided  falling  into  any  discourse 
with  him.  My  cue  was  to  note  the  men,  and  to  ascertain  all  I 
could  concerning  their  distribution  during  the  approaching  night 


MILKS      TVALLINOFORD.  221 

Diggins,  I  could  sec,  was  a  red-faced  fellow,  who  probably  had 
lost  his  promotion  through  love  of  the  bottle,  though,  as  often 
happens  with  such  persons,  a  prime  seaman  and  a  thorough 
man-of-war's-man.  Of  him,  I  thought  I  could  make  sure  by 
means  of  brandy.  Sennit  struck  me  as  being  a  much  more 
difficult  subject  to  get  along  with.  There  were  signs  of  cogniac 
about  his  face,  too,  but  he  had  more  rank,  more  at  stake,  and 
brighter  hopes  than  the  master's  mate.  Then  he  was  evidently 
better  practised  in  the  ways  of  the  Avorld  than  his  companion, 
and  had  constantly  a  sort  of  uneasy  vigilance  about  his  eye  and 
manner  that  gave  mo  no  little  concern. 

It  was  my  wish  to  strike  a  blow,  if  possible,  that  very  night, 
every  minute  carrying  us  fast  toward  the  chops  of  the  Channel, 
where  the  English  had  so  many  cruisers  in  general,  as  to  render 
ultimate  escape  next  to  impossible,  should  we  even  be  so  lucky 
as  to  regain  command  of  our  own  ship.  I  was  afraid,  moreover, 
Sennit  might  take  it  into  his  head  to  have  all  hands  all  night, 
under  the  pretext  of  drawing  in  with  the  land.  Should  he 
actually  adopt  this  course,  our  case  was  nearly  hopeless. 

"  Your  mate  seems  to  love  the  cupboard,  Mr.  Wallingford," 
Sennit  remarked  to  me,  in  a  good-natured  manner,  with  an 
evident  wish  to  establish  still  more  amicable  relations  between 
us  than  had  yet  existed ;  "he  has  been  in  and  about  that  galley 
these  ten  minutes,  fidgeting  with  his  tin-pot,  like  a  raw  hand 
who  misses  his  mother's  tea !" 

Sennit  laughed  at  his  own  humor,  and  I  could  hardly  answer 
with  a  smile,  for  I  knew  my  mate  had  adopted  this  experiment 
to  open  communications  with  .the  cook. 

"  Mr.  Marble  is  famous  for  his  love  of  slops,"  I  answered, 
evasively. 

"  Well,  he  does  not  look  it.  I  have  seldom  seen  a  more  thor 
ough-looking  sea-dog  than  your  mate,  Captain  Wallingford" — 
this  was  the  first  time  Sennit  had  dignified  me  with  this  title — 
"  and  I  took  a  fancy  to  him  on  that  account,  as  soon  as  I  saw 
him.  You  will  do  mo  the  favor  to  sup  with  us  in  the  cabin,  I 
hope,  for  I  see  signs  at  the  galley  that  it  will  soon  be  ready  ?" 


222  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

"  I  shall  expect  to  join  your  mess,  sir,  now  explanations  have 
passed  between  us.  I  suppose  my  mate  is  to  be  one  of  my 
party,  as  well  as  yours  ?" 

"  Certainly.  I  shall  ask  the  favor  of  you  to  let  Mr.  Marble 
relieve  Diggins,  for  half  an  hour  or  so,  while  the  poor  fellow 
gets  a  bite.  We'll  do  as  much  for  you  another  time." 

This  was  said  in  a  dry,  laughing  sort  of  a  way,  whrch  showed 
that  Mr.  Sennit  was  fully  aware  he  was  making  a  request  a  little 
out  of  rule,  to  ask  a  man  to  aid  in  carrying  his  own  ship  into 
port  as  a  prize ;  but  I  took  it,  as  it  was  meant,  for  a  rough  joke 
that  had  convenience  at  the  bottom. 

It  was  not  long  ere  Neb  came  to  announce  that  supper  was 
ready.  Sennit  had  made  but  an  indifferent  dinner,  it  would 
seem,  and  he  appeared  every  way  disposed  to  take  his  revenge 
on  the  present  occasion.  Calling  out  to  me  to  follow,  he  led 
the  Avay  cheerfully  into  the  cabin,  professing  great  satisfaction 
at  finding  we  were  to  make  but  one  mess  of  it.  Strictly  speak 
ing,  a  prize  crew,  under  circumstances  like  those  in  which  the 
Dawn  was  now  placed,  had  no  right  to  consume  any  portion  of 
the  vessel's  own  stores,  condemnation  being  indispensable  to 
legalize  Lord  Harry  Dermond's  course,  even  according  to  the 
laws  of  his  own  country.  But  I  had  ordered  Neb  to  be  liberal 
with  my  means,  and  a  very  respectable  entertainment  was  spread 
before  our  eyes,  when  we  reached  the  cabin.  Sennit  was  soon 
hard  at  work ;  but,  under  pretence  of  looking  for  some  better 
sugar  than  had  been  placed  on  the  table,  I  got  three  bottles  of 
brandy  privately  into  Neb's  hands,  whispering  him  to  give  one 
to  the  master's  mate  on  deck,  and.  the  other  two  to  the  crew.  I 
knew  there  were  too  many  motives  for  such  a  bribe,  connected 
with  our  treatment,  the  care  of  our  private  property,  and  other 
things  of  that  nature,  to  feel  any  apprehension  that  the  true  ob 
ject  of  this  liberality  would  be  suspected  by  those  who  were  to 
reap  its  advantages. 

Sennit,  Marble,  and  myself  sat  quite  an  hour  at  table.  The 
former  drank  freely  of  Avine ;  though  he  declined  having  any 
thing  to  do  with  the  brandy.  As  he  had  taken  two  or  three 


MILKS      W  A  L  T,  I  X  G  F  O  R  D  .  22.T 

glasses  of  the  rejected  liquor  in  my  presence  before  the  two  ships 
parted,  I  was  convinced  his  present  forbearance  proceeded  from 
a  consciousness  of  the  delicate  circumstances  in  which  he  was 
placed,  and  I  became  rather  more  wary  in  my  own  movements. 
At  length  the  lieutenant  said  something  about  the  "  poor  devil 
on  deck,"  and  Marble  was  sent  up  to  look  out  for  the  ship,  while 
Diggins  came  below  to  eat.  The  instant  the  master's  mate  ap 
peared,  I  could  see  the  brandy  had  beeTti  doing  its  work  on  him, 
and  I  was  fearful  his  superior  might  notice  it.  He  did  not, 
however,  being  too  well  pleased  with  the  Madeira  I  had  set  be 
fore  him,  to  trouble  himself  about  a  few  drams,  more  or  less, 
that  might  have  fallen  to  the  share  of  his  subordinate. 

At  length  this  memorable  supper,  like  every  thing  else  of 
earth,  came  to  an  end,  and  all  of  us  went  on  deck  in  a  body ; 
leaving  Neb  and  the  cook  to  clear  away  the  fragments.  It  was 
now  night,  though  a  soft  starlight  was  diffused  over  the  sur 
face  of  the  rolling  water.  The  wind  had  moderated  a  little,  and 
the  darkness  promised  to  pass  without  any  extra  labor  to  the 
people,  several  of  the  studding-sails  having  been  taken  in  by 
Diffffins's  orders,  when  he  first  went  below. 

OO  ' 

When  seamen  first  come  on  deck  at  sea,  there  is  usually  a 
pause  in  the  discourse,  while  each  notes  the  weather,  the  situa 
tion  of  the  ship,  and  the  signs  of  the  hour.  Sennit  and  myself 
did  this,  almost  as  a  matter  of  course,  separating,  in  order  that 
each  might  make  his  observation  at  leisure.  As  for  Marble,  he 
gave  up  the  command  of  the  deck  to  Diggins,  walking  forward 
by  himself.  Neb  and  the  cook  were  keeping  up  the  customary 
clattering  with  plates,  knives,  and  forks. 

"  Have  the  people  had  their  suppers  yet,  Mr.  Diggins  ?"  do» 
manded  the  lieutenant. 

"  Not  yet,  sir.  We  have  no  cook  of  our  own,  you  know,  sir, 
and  so  have  been  obliged  to  wait,  sir." 

"  The  king's  men  wail^for  nobody.  Order  that  black  fellow 
to  let  them  have  their  suppers  at  once ;  while  that  is  doing, 
we'll  tell  off  the  watches  for  the  night." 

Diggins  was  evidently  getting  more  and  more  tinder  the  in- 


224  MILES      WALLINGFOUD. 

flucncc  of  brandy,  keeping  the  bottle  liid  somewhere  near  him, 
by  which  means  he  took  frequent  draughts  unpcrccived.  lie 
gave  the  necessary  orders,  notwithstanding ;  and  presently  the 
men  were  mustered  aft,  to  be  told  off  into  the  two  watches  that 
were  required  for  the  service  of  the  ship.  This  was  soon  done, 
Sennit  choosing  five,  and  Diggins  his  five. 

"  It's  past  eight  o'clock,"  said  Sennit,  when  the  selections 
were  made.  "  Go  below,  the  watch,  and  all  but  the  man  at  the 
wheel  of  the  watch  on  deck  can  go  below  to  the  lights  to  eat. 
Bear  a  hand  with  your  suppers,  my  lads ;  this  is  too  big  a  craft 
to  be  left  without  look-outs  forward,  though  I  dare  say  the  Yan 
kees  will  lend  us  a  hand  while  you  are  swallowing  a  mouthful?" 

"  To  be  sure  we  will,  sir,"  cried  Marble,  who  had  come  to  the 
gangway  to  witness  the  proceedings.  "  Here,  you  Neb,  come 
out  of  that  galley  and  play  forecastle-man,  "while  John  Bull  gets 
his  supper.  He's  always  cross  when  he's  hungry,  and  we'll  feed 
him  well  to  make  a  good  neighborhood." 

This  caused  some  who  heard  it  to  laugh,  and  others  to  swear 
and  mutter.  Every  one,  nevertheless,  appeared  willing  to  profit 
by  the  arrangement,  the  Englishmen  being  soon  below,  hard  at 
work  around  the  kids.  It  now  struck  me  that  Marble  intended 
to  clap  the  forecastle-hatch  down  suddenly,  and  make  a  rush 
upon  the  prize  officers  and  the  man  at  the  wheel.  Leaving  one 
hand  to  secure  the  scuttle,  we  should  have  been  just  a  man 
apiece  for  those  on  deck ;  and  I  make  no  doubt  the  project 
would  have  succeeded  had  it  been  attempted  in  that  mode.  I 
was,  by  nature,  a  stronger  man  than  Sennit,  besides  being 
younger  and  in  my  prime,  while  Diggins  would  not  have  been 
more  than  a  child  in  Marble's  hands.  As  for  the  man  at  the 
Avhcel,  Neb  could  have  thrown  him  half  way  up  to  the  mizzcn- 
top,  on  an  emergency.  But  it  seemed  that  my  mate  had  a 
deeper  project  in  view ;  nor  was  the  other  absolutely  certain,  as 
I  afterward  learned,  one  of  the  Englishmen  soon  coming  out  of 
the  forecastle  to  eat  on  deck,  quite  likely  aware  that  there  might 
be  some  risk  in  letting  all  hands  remain  below. 

It  was  now  sufficiently  dark  for  our  purposes,  and  I  began  to 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  225 

reflect  seriously  on  the  best  mode  of  proceeding,  when,  all  at 
once,  a  heavy  splash  in  the  water  was  heard,  and  Marble  was 
heard  shouting,  "  Man  overboard  !" 

Sennit  and  I  ran  to  the  lee  main-rigging,  where  we  just  got  a 
glimpse  of  the  hat  of  the  poor  fellow,  who  seemed  to  be  swim 
ming  manfully,  as  the  ship  foamed  past  him. 

"  Starboard  your  helm  !"  shouted  Marble.  "  Starboard  your 
helm !  Come  to  these  fore-braces,  Neb ;  bear  a  hand  this  a-way, 
you  cook.  Captain  Wallingford,  please  lend  us  a  pull.  Look 
out  for  the  boat,  Mr.  Sennit ;  we'll  take  care  of  the  head-yards." 

Now  all  this  had  been  regularly  concocted  in  the  mate's  mind 
in  advance.  By  these  means  he  not  only  managed  to  get  all 
our  people  together,  but  he  got  them  aAvay  from  the  boat.  The 
whole  wras  done  so  naturally  as  to  prevent  the  smallest  suspicion 
of  any  design.  To  do  Sennit  justice,  I  must  acknowledge  that 
he  behaved  himself  particularly  well  on  this  sudden  appeal  to 
his  activity  and  decision.  The  loss  of  a  man  was  to  him  a  mat 
ter  of  deep  moment ;  all  his  habits  and  propensities  inclining 
him  to  be  solicitous  about  the  manning  of  ships.  A  man  saved 
was  as  good  as  a  man  impressed ;  and  he  was  the  first  person  in 
the  boat.  By  the  time  the  ship  had  lost  her  way  the  boat  was 
ready,  and  I  heard  Sennit  call  out  the  order  to  lower.  As  for 
us  Americans,  we  had  our  hands  full  to  get  the  head-yards 
braced  up  in  time,  and  to  settle  away  the  topgallant-halyards, 
aft,  in  order  to  save  the  spars.  In  two  minutes,  however,  the 
Dawn  resembled  a  steed  that  had  suddenly  thrown  his  rider, 
diverging  from  his  course,  and  shooting  athwart  the  field  at 
right  angles  to  his  former  track,  scenting  and  snuffing  the  air. 
Forward  all  was  full,  but  the  after-yards  having  been  square  from 
the  first,  their  sails  lay  aback,  and  the  ship  was  slowly  forging1 
ahead,  with  the  seas  slapping  against  her  bows,  as  if  the  last 
were  admonishing  her  to  stop. 

I  noAv  walked  aft  to  the  tafFrail,  in  order  to  make  certain  of 
the  state  of  things.  Just  as  I  reached  the  stern,  Sennit  was  en 
couraging  the  men  to  "  give  wyay"  with  the  oar.  I  saw  that  he 
had  six  of  his  people  with  him,  and  no  doubt  six  of  his  best 


226  MILES      WALLINGFORU. 

men — the  boldest  and  most  active  being  always  the  most  for 
ward  on  such  occasions.  There  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  and  I 
turned  to  look  for  Marble.  He  was  at  my  elbow,  having  sought 
me  with  the  same  object.  We  walked  away  from  the  man  at 
the  wheel  together,  to  get  out  of  ear-shot. 

"Now's  your  time,  Miles,"  the  mate  muttered,  slipping  one 
of  my  own  pistols  into  my  hands  as  he  spoke.  "  That  master's 
mate  is  as  muzzy  as  a  tapster  at  midnight,  and  I  can  make  him 
do  what  I  please.  Neb  has  his  orders,  and  the  cook  is  ready 
and  willing.  You  have  only  to  say  the  word,  to  begin." 

"There  seems  little  necessity  for  bloodshed,"  I  answered. 
"  If  you  have  the  other  pistol,  do  not  use  it  unnecessarily ;  we 
may  want  it  for  the  boat" — 

"  Boat !"  interrupted  Marble.  "  What  more  have  we  to  do 
with  the  boat?  No — no — Miles;  let  this  Mr.  Sennit  go  to 
England  where  he  belongs.  Now,  see  how  I'll  manage  Dig- 
gins,"  he  added.  "  I  want  to  get  a  luff  purchase  up  out  of  the 
forecastle ;  will  you  just  order  two  or  three  of  your  fellows  for 
ward,  to  go  down  and  pass  it  up  for  me  ?" 

"  D'ye  hear  there,  forward,"  called  out  Diggins,  with  a  very 
thick  tongue.  "Tumbledown  into  that  forecastle,  three  or  four 

O  ' 

of  you,  and  pass  up  the  tackle  for  Mr.  Marble." 

Now,  there  were  but  three  of  the  Englishmen  left  in  the  ship, 
exclusively  of  the  master's  mate  himself,  and  the  man  at  the 
wheel.  This  order,  consequently,  sent  all  three  immediately 
into  the  forecastle.  Marble  coolly  drew  over  the  hatch,  secured 
it,  ordered  the  cook  to  keep  a  general  look-out  forward,  and 
walking  aft,  as  if  nothing  occurred,  said  in  his  quiet  way — 

"  The  ship's  yours,  again,  Captain  Wallingford." 

"  Mr.  Diggins,"  I  said,  approaching  the  master's  mate,  "  as  I 
have  a  necessity  for  this  vessel,  which  is  my  property,  if  you 
please,  sir,  I'll  now  take  charge  of  her  in  person.  You  had  bet 
ter  go  below,  and  make  yourself  comfortable ;  there  is  good 
brandy  to  be  had  for  the  asking,  and  you  may  pass  an  agreeable 
evening,  and  turn  in  whenever  it  suits  you." 

Diggins  was  a  sot  and  a  fool,  but  he  did  not  want  for  pluck. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  227 

His  first  disposition  was  to  give  battle,  beginning  to  call  out  for 
his  men  to  come  to  his  assistance,  but  I  put  an  end  to  this,  by 
seizing  him  by  the  collar,  and  dropping  him,  a  little  unceremo 
niously,  down  the  companion-way.  Half  an  hour  later,  he  was 
dead  drunk,  and  snoring  on  the  cabin  floor. 

There  remained  only  the  man  at  the  wheel  to  overcome.  He 
was  a  seaman,  of  course,  and  one  of  those  quiet,  orderly  men, 
who  usually  submit  to  the  powers  that  be.  Approaching  him, 
I  said, 

"  You  see  how  it  is,  my  lad ;  the  ship  has  again  changed 
owners.  As  for  you,  you  shall  be  treated  as  you  behave.  Stand 
to  the  wheel,  and  you'll  get  good  treatment  and  plenty  of  grog, 
but,  by  becoming  fractious,  you'll  find  yourself  in  irons  before 
you  know  where  you  are." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  answered  the  man,  touching  his  hat,  and  con 
tenting  himself  Avith  this  brief  and  customary  reply. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Marble,"  I  continued,  "  it  is  time  to  Have  an  eye 
on  the  boat,  which  will  soon  find  the  man,  or  give  him  up.  I 
own,  that  I  wish  we  had  recovered  the  ship  without  tossing  the 
poor  fellow  overboard." 

"  Fellow  overboard !"  cried  Marble,  laughing;  " I'd  ha' thrown 
all  England  into  the  sea  had  it  been  necessary  and  in  my  power, 
but  it  wasn't  necessary  to  throw  overboard  so  much  as  a  child. 
The  chap  they're  arter  is  nothing  but  one  of  the  fenders,  with 
the  deep-sea  lashed  to  its  smaller  end,  and  a  tarpaulin  stopped 
on  the  larger !  Mr.  Sennit  need  be  in  no  great  hurry,  for 
I'll  engage  his  '  man  overboard'  will  float  as  long  as  his  yawl!" 

The  whole  of  Marble's  expedient  was  thus  explained,  and  I 
confess  I  was  much  relieved  by  a  knowledge  of  the  truth. 
Apart  from  the  general  relief  that  accompanied  the  conscious 
ness  of  not  having  taken  human  life,  should  we  again  fall  into 
English  hands,  a  thing  by  no  means  improbable,  in  the  situa 
tion  in  which  we  were  placed  this  circumstance  might  be  of  the 
last  importance  to  us.  In  the  mean  time,  however,  I  had  to 
look  to  the  boat  and  the  ship. 

The  first  thing  we  did  was  to  clew  up  the  three  topgallant- 


228  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

sails.  This  gave  us  a  much  easier  command  of  the  vessel, 
short-handed  as  we  were,  and  it  rendered  it  less  hazardous  to 
the  spars  to  keep  the  Dawn  on  a  Avind.  When  this  was  done, 
I  ordered  the  after-braces  manned,  and  the  leeches  brought  as 
near  as  possible  to  touching.  It  was  time  ;  for  the  oars  were 
heard,  and  then  I  got  a  view  of  the  boat  as  it  came  glancing 
down  on  our  weather-quarter.  I  instantly  gave  the  order  to  fill 
the  after-sails,  and  to  keep  the  ship  full  and  by.  The  braces 
were  manned  as  well  as  they  could  be  by  Marble,  Neb,  and  the 
cook,  while  I  kept  an  eye  on  the  boat,  Avith  an  occasional  glance 
at  the  man  at  the  wheel. 

"  Boat  ahoy !"  I  hailed,  as  soon  as  the  lieutenant  got  near 
enough  for  conversation. 

"  Ay,  boat  ahoy !  sure  enough,"  growled  Sennit ;  "  some 
gentleman's  back  Avill  pay  for  this  trick.  The  '  man  overboard' 
is  nothing  but  a  d — d  paddy  made  out  of  a  fender  Avith  a  tar 
paulin  truck !  I  suspect  your  mate  of  this,  Mr.  "Wallingford." 

"  My  mate  OAvns  the  offence,  sir ;  it  was  committed  to  get  you 
out  of  the  ship,  Avhile  AVC  took  charge  of  her  again.  The  Dawn 
is  under  my  orders  once  more,  Mr.  Sennit,  and  before  I  permit 
you  to  come  on  board  her  again  AVC  must  have  an  understand 
ing  on  the  subject." 

A  long,  meaning  whistle,  Avith  a  muttered  oath  or  two,  satis 
fied  me  that  the  lieutenant  had  not  the  slightest  suspicion  of 
the  truth,  until  it  Avas  thus  abruptly  announced  to  him.  By 
this  tune  the  boat  was  under  our  stern,  where  she  was  brought 
in  order  to  be  hooked  on,  the  men  intending  to  come  up  by 
the  tackles.  For  this  I  cared  not,  however,  it  being  an  easy 
matter  for  me,  standing  on  the  taffrail,  to  knock  any  one  on  the 
head  Avho  should  attempt  to  board  us  in  that  fashion.  By  way 
of  additional  security,  however,  Neb  Avas  called  to  the  Avheel, 
Marble  taking  the  English  sailor  fonvard  to  help  haul  the  bow 
lines  and  trim  the  yards.  The  ship  beginning  to  gather  Avay, 
too,  I  threw  Sennit  the  end  of  a  loAver  studding-sail  halyards 
that  Avere  brought  aft  for  the  purpose,  ordered  his  boAvman  to 
let  go  his  hold  of  the  tackle,  and  dropped  the  boat  a  safe  toAV- 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  229 

ing  distance  astern.  Neb  being  ordered  to  keep  the  wcathcr- 
leeclics  touching,  just  way  enough  was  got  on  the  ship  to  carry 
out  the  whole  of  this  plan  without  risk  to  anybody. 

"  You'll  not  think  of  leaving  us  out  here  on  the  Atlantic,  Mr. 
Wallingford,  five  hundred  miles  from  the  Land's  End,"  Sennit 
at  length  called  out,  time  having  been  taken  to  chew  the  cud 
of  reflection. 

"  That's  as  you  behave,  sir.  I  wish  you  no  harm  personal 
ly,  Mr.  Sennit,  though  I  much  wish  my  own  ship.  The  night 
promises  to  be  good  and  the  wind  is  moderating,  so  that  the 
boat  Avill  be  perfectly  safe.  I  will  have  you  hauled  up,  and  we 
will  throw  you  a  spare  sail  for  a  covering,  and  you  will  have 
the  consolation  of  knowing  that  we  shall  have  to  keep  watch 
while  you  are  sleeping." 

"  Ay,  sir,  I  understand  it  all ;  Job's  comfort  that  will  be.  As 
I  do  not  suppose  you  are  to  be  coaxed  out  of  the  advantage 
you  have  obtained,  we  have  no  choice  but  compliance.  Give  us 
some  food  and  water  in  addition,  and  for  God's  sake !  don't  cast 
us  adrift  in  this  boat,  so  far  from  land." 

I  gave  Sennit  an  assurance  that  we  would  take  care  of  him, 
and  orders  were  issued  to  comply  with  his  wishes.  We  passed 
the  sail  into  the  boat,  and  lowered  a  bread-bag,  a  kid  full  of 
beef  and  pork,  and  a  breaker  of  fresh  water.  I  took  all  these 
precautions  the  more  readily,  as  I  did  not  know  but  we  might 
be  compelled  to  cast  the  boat  adrift,  and  one  would  not  wish  to 
resort  to  such  a  step,  without  desiring  to  leave  his  crew  the  best 
possible  chance  for  their  lives.  I  will  do  Marble  the  justice  to 
say,  he  was  active  in  making  these  arrangements,  though  had 
the  question  of  destroying  the  entire  prize  crew  presented  it 
self  on  one  side,  and  that  of  losing  the  ship  on  the  other,  he 
would  not  have  hesitated  about  sinking  Great  Britain  itself, 
were  it  possible  to  achieve  the  last.  I  was  more  human,  and 
felt  exceedingly  relieved  when  I  again  found  myself  in  com 
mand  of  the  Dawn,  after  an  interregnum  of  less  than  ten  hours, 
without  a  drop  of  blood  having  been  spilled. 

As  soon  as  every  thing  required  was  passed  into  the  boat,  she 


230 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  X  G  F  O  II  D . 


was  dropped  astern,  nearly  to  the  whole  length  of  the  studding- 
sail  halyards.  This  would  make  her  tow  more  safoly  to  both 
parlies :  to  those  in  her,  because  there  was  less  risk  of  the  ship's 
dragging  her  under,  and  to  ourselves,  because  it  removed  all 
danger  of  the  Englishmen's  returning  our  favor,  by  effecting  a 
surprise  in  their  turn.  At  such  a  distance  from  the  ship,  there 
would  always  be  time  for  us  to  rally  and  defeat  any  attempt  to 
get  alongside. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  231 


CHAPTER  XV. 

"Capl.  And  as  for  these  whose  ransom  we  have  sot, 
It  Is  our  pleasure,  one  of  them  depart : — 
Therefore  come  you  with  us,  and  let  him  go." 

KING  HEKET  VL 

BY  such  simple  means,  and  Avithout  resistance,  as  it  might  be, 
did  I  recover  the  possession  of  my  ship,  the  Dawn.  But,  now 
that  the  good  vessel  was  in  my  power,  it  was  by  no  means  an 
easy  thing  to  say  Avhat  was  to  be  done  with  her.  We  were 
just  on  the  verge  of  the  ground  occupied  by  the  Channel  cruisers, 
and  it  was  preposterous  to  think  of  running  the  gauntlet  among 
so  many  craft  with  the  expectation  of  escaping.  It  is  true,  we 
might  fall  in  with  twenty  English  man-of-war  vessels  before  wo 
met  with  another  Speedy  to  seize  and  order  us  into  Plymouth, 
had  every  thing  been  in  order  and  in  the  usual  state,  but  no 
cruiser  would  or  could  board  us,  and  not  demand  the  reasons 
why  so  large  a  ship  should  be  navigated  by  so  small  a  crew.  It 
was  over  matters  like  these  that  Marble  and  I  now  consulted, 
no  one  being  on  the  quarter-deck  but  the  mate,  who  stood  at 
the  wheel,  and  myself.  The  cook  was  keeping  a  look-out  on 
the  forecastle.  The  Englishman  had  lain  down,  in  full  view, 
by  my  orders,  at  the  foot  of  the  mainmast ;  while  Neb,  ever 
ready  to  sleep  when  not  on  duty,  was  catching  a  nap  on  the 
booms. 

"We  have  got  the  ship,  Moses,"  I  commenced,  "and  the  ques 
tion  next  arises,  what  we  are  to  do  with  her." 

"Carry  her  to  her  port  of  destination,  Captain  Wallingford,  to 
be  sure.  What  else  can  we  do  with  her,  sir  ?" 

"Ay,  that  is  well  enough,  if  it  can  be  done.  But,  in  addition 
to  the  difficulty  of  four  men's  taking  care  of  a  craft  of  five  hun- 


232  MILES      WALL1NGFORL'. 

drcd  tons,  we  have  a  sea  before  us  that  is  covered  with  English 
cruisers." 

"  As  for  the  four  men,  you  may  safely  set  us  down  as  eight. 
I'll  engage  we  do  as  much  in  a  blow,  as  eight  such  fellows  as  are 
picked  up  now-a-days  'long  shore.  The  men  of  the  present  time 
are  mere  children  to  those  one  met  with  in  my  youth,  Miles !" 

"  Neither  Neb,  nor  the  cook,  nor  I,  am  a  man  of  other  times, 
but  are  all  men  of  to-day ;  so  you  must  call  us  but  three,  after 
all.  I  know  we  can  do  much ;  but  a  gale  may  come  that  would 
teach  us  our  insignificance.  As  it  is,  we  are  barely  able  to  furl 
the  main-topgallant-sail  in  a  squall,  leaving  one  hand  at  the 
wheel,  and  another  to  let  go  rigging.  No,  no,  Moses ;  we  must 
admit  we  are  rather  short-handed,  putting  the  best  face  on  the 
matter." 

"  If  you  generalize  in  that  mode,  Miles,  my  dear  boy,  I  must 
allow  that  we  are.  We  can  go  up  Channel,  and  ten  chances  to  one 
but  we  fall  in  with  some  Yankee,  who  will  lend  us  a  hand  or  two." 

"We  shall  be  twice  as  likely  to  meet  Avith  King  George's 
ships,  Avho  will  overhaul  our  articles,  and  want  to  know  what 
has  become  of  the  rest  of  our  people." 

"Then  we'll  tell  'em  that  the  rest  of  the  crew  has  been  pressed; 
they  know  their  own  tricks  too  well,  not  to  see  the  reasonable 
ness  of  such  an  idee." 

"  No  officer  would  leave  a  vessel  of  this  size  with  only  her 
master,  mate,  cook,  and  one  man,  to  take  care  of  her,  even  had 
he  found  a  crew  of  deserters  from  his  own  ship  in  her.  In  such 
a  case,  and  admitting  a  right  to  impress  from  a  foreigner  at  all, 
it  would  be  his  duty  to  send  a  party  to  carry  the  craft  into  port. 
No,  no,  Moses ;  we  must  give  all  the  English  a  wide  berth,  now, 
or  they  will  walk  us  into  Plymouth,  yet." 

"  Blast  the  hole !  I  was  in  it  a  prisoner,  during  the  revvylu- 
sluin,  and  never  want  to  see  its  face  ag'in.  They've  got  Avhat 
they  call  the  Mill  Prison  there,  and  it's  a  mill  that  does  grinding 
less  to  my  taste  than  the  thing  of  your'n  at  Clawbonny.  Why 
not  go  north-about,  Miles?  There  must  be  few  cruisers  up  that- 
a-way." 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  233 

"  The  road  is  too  long,  the  weather  is  apt  to  be  too  thick,  and 
the  coast  is  too  dangerous  for  us,  Moses.  We  have  but  two  ex 
pedients  to  choose  between — to  turn  our  heads  to  the  westward, 
and  try  to  get  home,  trusting  to  luck  to  bring  us  up  with  some 
American  Avho  will  help  us,  or  steer  due  east  and  run  for  a  French 
port — Bordeaux  for  instance — where  we  might  either  dispose  of 
the  cargo,  or  ship  a  new  crew,  and  sail  for  our  port  of  destina 
tion." 

"  Then  try  the  last,  by  all  means.  "With  this  wind,  we  might 
shove  the  ship  in  with  the  land  in  the  course  of  two  or  three 
days,  and  go  clear  of  every  thing !  I  like  the  idee,  and  think  it 
can  be  carried  out.  Burdux  is  always  full  of  Americans,  and 
there  must  be  men  enough,  to  be  had  for  the  asking,  knocking 
about  the  quays." 

After  a  little  further  conversation,  we  determined  on  this  plan, 
and  set  about  carrying  it  into  execution  on  the  spot.  In  round- 
ing-to,  the  ship  had  been  brought  by  the  wind  on  the  larboard 
tack,  and  was  standing  to  the  northward  and  westward,  instead 
of  to  the  eastward,  the  course  we  now  wished  to  steer.  It  was 
necessary,  therefore,  to  ware  round  and  get  the  ship's  head  in 
the  right  direction.  This  was  not  a  difficult  mano3uvre  at  all, 
and  the  Englishman  helping  us  with  seeming  good-will,  it  was 
soon  successfully  executed.  When  this  was  accomplished,  I 
sent  the  English  sailor  into  the  cabin  to  keep  Diggins  com 
pany,  and  we  set  a  watch  on  deck  of  two  and  two,  Marble  and 
myself  taking  charge  four  hours  and  four  hours,  in  the  old 
mode. 

I  acknowledge  that  I  slept  little  that  night.  Two  or  three 
times  we  detected  Sennit  attempting  to  haul  close  up  under  the 
ship's  stern,  out  of  all  question  with  a  view  to  surprise  us,  but 
as  often  would  he  drop  to  the  length  of  his  tow-rope,  as  he  saw 
Marble's  head,  or  mine,  watching  him  above  the  taffrail.  "When 
the  day  dawned  I  was  called,  and  was  up  and  on  the  look-out 
as  our  horizon  enlarged  and  brightened  round  the  ship.  The 
great  object  was  to  ascertain,  as  early  as  possible,  what  vessels 
niicfht  be  in  our  neighborhood. 


MILES      \V  A  L  L  I  X  G  F  O  R  D  . 


But  a  solitary  sail  was  visible.  She  appeared  to  be  a  ship  of 
size,  close-hauled,  Leading  to  the  southward  and  eastward  :  by 
steering  on  our  proper  course,  or  certainly  by  diverging  a  little 
to  the  northward,  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  speak  her.  As 
I  could  plainly  see  she  was  not  a  ship-of-war,  my  plan  was 
formed  in  a  moment.  On  communicating  it  to  Marble,  it  met 
with  his  entire  approbation.  Measures  were  taken,  accordirgly, 
to  carry  it  into  immediate  execution. 

In  the  first  place,  I  ordered  Sennit,  who  was  awake,  and  had 
been,  I  believe,  the  whole  night,  to  haul  the  boat  up  and  to 
lay  hold  of  one  of  the  boat-tackles.  This  he  did  willingly 
enough,  no  doubt  expecting  that  he  was  to  be  received  into  the 
ship,  under  a  treaty.  I  stood  on  the  look-out  to  prevent  an 
attack,  one  man  being  abundantly  able  to  keep  at  bay  a  dozen 
who  could  approach  only  by  ascending  a  rope  hand  over  hand, 
while  Marble  went  below  to  look  after  the  two  worthies  who 
had  been  snoring  all  night  in  the  cabin.  In  a  minute  my  mate 
reappeared,  leading  up  the  seaman,  who  was  still  more  asleep 
than  awake.  This  man  was  directed  to  lay  hold  of  the  tackle 
and  slide  down  into  the  boat.  There  being  no  remedy,  and 
descending  being  far  easier  than  ascending,  this  exploit  was 
soon  performed,  and  we  were  well  rid  of  one  of  our  enemies. 
Sennit  now  began  to  remonstrate,  and  to  point  out  the  danger 
there  was  of  being  towed  under,  the  ship  going  through  the 
water  the  whole  time  at  the  rate  of  five  or  six  knots.  I  knew, 
however,  that  the  English  were  too  skilful  to  run  the  risk  of 
being  drowned,  unnecessarily,  and  that  they  would  let  go  of  the 
tackle  before  they  would  suffer  the  boat  to  be  swamped.  It 
was  ticklish  work,  I  allow  ;  but  they  succeeded  surprisingly 
well  in  taking  care  of  themselves. 

We  had  more  difficulty  with  Diggins.  This  fellow  had  been 
so  beastly  drunk,  that  he  scarce  knew  what  he  was  about  when 
awoke  ;  and  Marble  rather  dragged  him  on  deck,  and  aft  to  the 
taffrail,  than  assisted  him  to  walk.  There  we  got  him  at  last  ; 
and  he  was  soon  dangling  by  the  tackle.  So  stupid  and  ener 
vated  was  the  master's  mate,  however,  that  he  let  go  his  hold, 


MILES      WALLINGFOKD.  235 

and  went  into  the  ocean.  The  souse  did  him  good,  1  make  no 
doubt ;  and  his  life  was  saved  by  his  friends,  one  of  the  sailors 
catching  him  by  the  collar,  and  raising  him  into  the  boat. 

Sennit  availed  himself  of  this  accident,  to  make  farther  re 
monstrances  on  the  subject  of  having  any  more  men  put  in  the 
boat.  It  was  easy  to  see,  it  was  as  much  his  policy  to  get 
everybody  out  of  that  little  conveyance,  as  it  was  mine  to  get 
all  the  English  into  her. 

"  For  God's  sake,  Captain  "VVallingford,  knock  off  with  this, 
if  you  please,"  cried  the  lieutenant,  with  a  most  imploring  sort 
of  civility  of  manner.  "  You  see  how  it  is ;  we  can  barely  keep 
the  boat  from  swamping,  with  the  number  we  have  in  her ;  and 
a  dozen  times  during  the  night  I  thought  the  ship  would  drag 
her  under.  Nothing  can  be  easier  than  for  you  to  secure  us  all, 
if  you  will  let  us  come  on  board,  one  at  a  time." 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  see  you  in  irons,  Mr.  Sennit ;  and  this  will 
remove  any  necessity  for  resorting  to  an  expedient  so  unpleas 
ant.  Hold  on  upon  the  tackle,  therefore,  as  I  shall  feel  obliged 
to  cast  you  off  entirely,  unless  you  obey  orders." 

This  threat  had  the  desired  effect.  One  by  one,  the  men 
were  let  up  out  of  the  forecastle,  and  sent  into  the  boat.  Cooked 
meat,  bread,  rum,  and  water  were  supplied  to  the  English ;  and, 
to  be  ready  to  meet  any  accident,  we  lowered  them  a  compass 
and  Sennit's  quadrant.  "We  did  the  last  at  his  own  earnest 
request,  for  he  seemed  to  suspect  we  intended  sending  him 
adrift,  as  indeed  was  my  plan,  at  the  proper  moment. 

Although  the  boat  had  now  twelve  men  in  her,  she  was  in  no 
danger,  being  a  stout,  buoyant,  six-oared  yawl,  that  might  have 
ueld  twenty  on  an  emergency.  The  weather  looked  promising, 
too — the  wind  being  just  a  good  topgallant  breeze  for  a  ship 
steering  full  and  by.  The  only  thing  about  which  I  had  any 
qualms,  was  the  circumstance  that  south-west  winds  were  apt  to 
bring  mists,  and  that  the  boat  might  thus  be  lost.  The  emer 
gency,  nevertheless,  was  one  that  justified  some  risks,  and  I 
pursued  my  plan  steadily. 

As  soon  as  all  the  English  were  in  the  boat,  and  well  pro- 


236  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

vided  with  necessaries,  we  felt  at  more  liberty  to  move  about 
the  ship,  and  exert  ourselves  in  taking  care  of  her.  The  man 
at  the  wheel  could  keep  an  eye  on  the  enemy — the  Dawn 
steering  like  a  pilot-boat.  Neb  was  sent  aloft  to  do  certain 
necessary  duty,  and  the  topgallant-sails  being  loose,  the  clew 
lines  were  overhauled,  and  the  sails  set.  I  did  this  more  to 
prevent  the  English  ship  from  suspecting  something  wrong  at 
seeing  a  vessel  running  off,  before  the  Avind,  under  such  short 
canvas,  than  from  any  desire  to  get  ahead,  since  we  were  already 
going  so  fast  as  to  render  it  probable  we  should  pass  the  other 
vessel,  unless  we  altered  our  course  to  meet  her. 

Diogenes  Billings,  the  cook,  had  now  a  little  leisure  to  serve 
us  a  warm  breakfast.  If  Mr.  Sennit  were  living,  I  think  he 
would  do  us  the  justice  to  say  he  was  not  forgotten.  We  sent 
the  people  in  the  boat  some  good  hot  coffee,  well  sweetened, 
and  they  had  a  fair  share  of  the  other  comfortable  eatables  of 
which  we  partook  ourselves.  We  also  got  out,  and  sent  them 
the  masts  and  regular  sails  of  the  boat,  which  was  fitted  to 
carry  two  sprits. 

By  this  time  the  stranger  ship  was  within  two  leagues  of  us, 
and  it  became  necessary  to  act.  I  sent  Marble  aloft  to  examine  the 
horizon,  and  he  came  down  to  report  nothing  else  was  in  sight. 
This  boded  well.  I  proceeded  at  once  to  the  taffrail,  where  I 
hailed  the  boat,  desiring  Sennit  to  haul  her  up  within  comfort 
able  conversing  distance.  This  was  done  immediately. 

"  Mr.  Sennit,"  I  commenced,  "  it  is  necessary  for  us  to  part 
here.  The  ship  in  sight  is  English,  and  will  take  you  up.  I 
intend  to  speak  her,  and  will  take  care  that  she  knows  where 
you  arc.  By  standing  due  cast  you  will  easily  cut  her  off,  and 
there  cannot  be  a  doubt  of  her  picking  you  up." 

"For  Heaven's  sake,  consider  a  moment,  Captain  Wallingford," 
Sennit  exclaimed,  "  before  you  abandon  us  out  here,  a  thousand 
miles  from  land." 

"  You  arc  just  three  hundred  and  twenty-six  miles  from  Scil- 
ly,  and  not  much  more  from  the  Land's  End,  Mr.  Sennit, 
with  a  wind  blowing  dead  for  both.  Then  your  own  coun- 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  237 

trymcn  will  pick  you  up,  of  a  certainty,  and  cany  you  safe  intc 
port." 

"  Ay — into  one  of  the  West  India  islands  ;  if  an  Englishman 
at  all,  yonder  vessel  is  a  running  West  Indiaman  ;  she  may  take 
us  all  the  way  to  Jamaica." 

"  Well,  then,  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of  returning  at 
your  leisure.  You  wished  to  take  me  almost  as  much  out  of 
my  course ;  or,  if  not  absolutely  out  of  my  course,  quite  as  much 
out  of  ^my  time.  I  have  as  little  relish  for  Plymouth  as  you 
seem  to  have  for  Jamacia." 

"  But  the  stranger  may  be  a  Frenchman — now,  I  look  at 
him,  he  has  a  French  look." 

"  If  he  should  be  French,  he  will  treat  you  well.  It  Avill  be 
exchanging  beef  for  soup-maigre  for  a  week  or  two.  These 
Frenchmen  eat  and  drink,  as  well  as  you  .English." 

"  But,  Captain  Wallingford,  their  prisons  !  This  fellow  Bon 
aparte  exchanges  nobody  this  war,  and  if  I  get  into  France  I  am 
a  ruined  man." 

"  And  if  I  had  gone  into  Plymouth,  I  fear  I  should  have  been 
a  ruined  man,  too." 

"  Remember  we  are  of  the  same  blood,  after  all — people  of 
the  same  stock — just  as  much  countrymen  as  the  natives  of 
Kent  and  Suffolk.  Old  Saxon  blood,  both  of  us." 

"  Thank  you,  sir ;  I  shall  not  deny  the  relationship,  since  it 
is  your  pleasure  to  claim  it.  I  marvel,  however,  you  did  not  let 
your  cousin's  ship  pass  without  detaining  her." 

"  How  could  I  help  it,  my  dear  Wallingford  ?  Lord  Har 
ry  is  a  nobleman,  and  a  captain,  and  what  could  a  poor  devil 
of  a  lieutenant,  whose  commission  is  not  a  year  old,  do  against 
such  odds  ?  No,  no,  there  should  be  more  feeling  and  good  • 
fellowship  between  chaps  like  you  and  me,  who  have  their  way 
to  make  in  the  world." 

"  You  remind  me  of  the  necessity  of  being  in  motion.  Adieu, 
Mr.  Sennit.  Cut,  Moses !" 

Marble  struck  a  blow  with  the  axe  on  the  studding-sail  hal 
yards,  and  away  the  Dawn  glided,  leaving  the  boat  tossing  on 


238  MILES     WALLINGFOUD. 

tlie  waves  twenty  fathoms  further  astern,  on  the  very  first  send 
of  the  sea.  What  Mr.  Sennit  said,  I  could  not  hear,  now,  but  I 
very  plainly  saw  him  shake  his  fist  at  me,  and  his  head,  too  ;  and 
I  make  no  manner  of  doubt,  if  he  called  me  any  thing,  that  he 
did  not  call  me  a  gentleman.  In  ten  minutes  the  boat  was  fully 
a  mile  astern.  At  first  Sennit  did  not  appear  disposed  to  do 
any  thing,  lying  motionless  on  the  water  in  sullen  stillness ;  but 
wiser  thoughts  succeeded,  and,  stepping  his  two  masts,  in  less 
than  twenty  minutes  I  saw  his  sails  spread,  and  the  boat  making 
the  best  of  its  way  to  get  into  the  track  of  the  stranger. 

It  had  been  my  intention,  originally,  to  speak  the  strange 
ship,  as  I  had  told  Sennit ;  but  seeing  there  was  no  probability 
of  her  altering  her  course  so  as  to  pass  the  boat,  I  changed  my 
purpose,  and  stood  directly  athwart  her  fore-foot,  at  about  half 
a  mile's  distance.  I  set  the  Yankee  bunting,  and  she  showed 
the  English  ensign  in  return.  Had  she  been  French,  however, 
it  would  have  made  no  odds  to  me,  for  what  did  I  care  about 
my  late  captors  becoming  prisoners  of  war  ?  They  had  endeav 
ored  to  benefit  themselves  at  my  cost,  and  I  was  willing  enough 
to  benefit  myself  at  theirs. 

We  made  our  preparations  for  setting  studding-sails  now, 
though  I  thought  there  were  signs  of  a  desire  in  the  English 
man  to  speak  me.  I  knew  he  must  be  armed,  and  felt  no  wish 
to  gratify  him,  inasmuch  as  he  might  take  it  into  his  head  to 
make  some  inquiries  concerning  the  boat,  which  if  not  already 
visible  from  his  decks,  soon  must  be.  I  was  certain  the  Dawn, 
deep  as  she  was,  would  go  four  feet  to  the  Indiaman's  three, 
and,  once  past  him,  I  had  no  apprehensions  in  the  event  of  a 
chase. 

The  English  ship  caught  sight  of  the  boat  when  we  were 
about  a  mile  on  his  lee-quarter,  with  lower  and  topmast  stud 
ding-sails  set,  going  quite  eight  knots,  on  a  due  east  course. 
We  became  aware  of  the  fact  by  her  hoisting  a  jack  at  the  fore. 
From  that  moment  I  gave  myself  no  concern  on  the  subject  of 
Sennit  and  his  prize  crew.  Twenty  minutes  later,  we  saw  the 
ship  back  her  main-topsail,  and,  by  means  of  the  glasses,  we 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  239 

plainly  perceived  the  boat  alongside  of  her.  After  some  delay, 
the  yawl  was  hoisted  on  the  deck  of  the  ship,  and  the  latter 
filled  her  topsail.  I  had  some  curiosity  to  ascertain  what  would 
come  next.  It  Avould  seem  that  Sennit  actually  induced  the 
master  of  the  West  Indiaman  to  give  chase,  for  no  sooner  did 
the  vessel  gather  way  than  she  bore  up  after  us,  packing  on 
every  thing  that  would  draw.  We  were  greatly  rejoiced  at 
having  improved  the  leisure  time  in  making  sail  ourselves,  for 
having  a  lower  studding-sail  and  two  topmast  studding-sails  on 
the  ship,  when  this  race  began,  I  did  not  feel  much  apprehension 
of  being  overtaken.  By  way  of  making  more  sure  of  an  escape, 
however,  we  set  the  royals. 

When  the  West  Indiaman  bore  up  in  chase,  we  were  about 
two  leagues  ahead  of  our  pursuer.  So  far  from  lessening  this 
distance,  though  she  carried  royal  studding-sails,  we  gradually 
increased  it  to  three,  until,  satisfied  he  could  do  nothing,  the 
master  of  the  strange  ship  took  in  his  light  sails  and  hauled  by 
the  wind  again,  carrying  the  late  prize  crew  in  a  direct  line  from 
England.  I  afterward  learned  that  Sennit  and  his  companions 
were  actually  landed  in  the  island  of  Barbadoes,  after  a  pleasant 
passage  of  only  twenty-six  days.  I  make  no  doubt  it  took  them 
much  longer  to  get  back  again,  for  it  was  certain  that  not  one 
of  them  had  reappeared  in  England  six  months  from  that  day. 

We  now  had  the  ship  to  ourselves,  though  with  a  very  di 
minished  crew.  The  day  was  the  time  to  sleep  ;  and  relieving 
each  other  at  the  wheel,  those  who  were  off  duty  slept  most  of 
the  time  -when  they  were  not  eating.  At  six  in  the  evening,  how- 
ev.er,  all  hands  were  up,  making  our  preparations  for  the  night. 

At  that  hour  the  wind  was  steady  and  favorable,  the  horizon 
clear  of  vessels  of  every  sort,  and  the  prospects  of  a  pleasant 
night  were  sufficiently  good.  The  run  in  the  course  of  the  day 
was  equal  to  one  hundred  miles,  and  I  computed  the  distance  to 
Brest  at  something  less  than  four  hundred  miles.  By  getting 
in  nearer  with  the  land  I  should  have  the  option  of  standing 
for  any  French  port  I  pleased,  that  lay  between  Cherbourg  and 
Bayonnc. 


240  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  Well,  Moses,"  I  observed  to  my  old  friend  and  shipmate, 
•when  we  had  finished  our  survey,  "  this  looks  promising  !  As 
long  as  the  wind  remains  in  this  quarter,  we  shall  do  well 
enough ;  should  we  actually  get  in  safely,  I  shall  not  regret  the 
delay,  the  credit  of  having  done  so  good  a  thing,  and  of  having 
done  it  so  well,  being  worth  as  much  to  me  as  any  interest  on 
capital,  or  wear  and  tear  of  gear,  can  possibly  be.  As  for  Mr. 
Sennit,  I  fancy  he  is  some  sixty  miles  off  here  at  the  southward 
and  westward,  and  we've  done  with  him  for  the  voyage." 

"  Suppose  he  should  fall  in  with  the  Speedy,  and  report  what 
has  happened,  Miles  ?"  returned  the  mate.  "  I  have  been  cal 
culating  that  chance.  The  stranger  was  standing  directly  for 
the  frigate's  cruising  ground,  and  he  may  meet  her.  We  Anil 
not  halloo,  till  we're  out  of  the  woods." 

"  That  risk  is  so  remote,  I  shall  not  let  it  give  me  any  trouble. 
It  is  my  intention  to  run  in  for  the  land  at  our  fastest  rate  of 
sailing,  and  then  profit  by  the  best  wind  that  offers,  to  get  into 
the  nearest  haven.  If  you  can  suggest  a  better  scheme,  Moses. 
I  invite  you  to  speak." 

Marble  assented,  though  I  perceived  he  was  not  entirely  free 
from  the  apprehension  he  had  named  until  the  next  morning 
arrived,  bringing  with  it  no  change,  and  still  leaving  us  a  clear 
sea.  That  day  and  the  succeeding  night,  too,  we  made  a  capi 
tal  run,  and  at  meridian  of  the  third  day  after  the  recapture  of 
the  Dawn,  I  calculated  our  position  to  be  just  one  hundred  and 
four  miles  to  the  southward  and  eastward  of  Ushant.  The 
wind  had  shifted,  however,  and  it  had  just  come  out* light  at 
north-east.  We  went  to  work,  all  hands  of  us,  to  get  in  the 
studding-sails,  and  to  brace  up  and  haul  aft ;  an  operation  that 
consumed  nearly  two  hours.  We  were  so  busily  employed,  in 
deed,  as  to  have  little  or  no  time  to  look  about  us,  and  my  sur 
prise  was  the  less,  therefore,  when  the  cook  called  out  "  sail 
.ho  !"  I  was  busy  trimming  the  main-yard,  when  the  announce 
ment  was  made,  and  looking  up,  I  saw  a  lugger  standing  toward 
us,  and  already  within  long  gunshot.  I  afterward  ascertained 
that  perceiving  us  to  be  approaching  her,  this  craft  had  lain  like 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  FO  It  D  .  241 

a  snake  in  the  grass,  under  bare  poles,  until  she  thought  us 
sufficiently  near,  when  she  made  sail  in  chase.  I  saw  at  a  glance, 
several  important  facts :  in  the  first  place,  the  lugger  was  French 
beyond  all  dispute ;  in  the  second,  she  was  a  cruiser,  public  or 
private  ;  in  the  third,  escape  from  her,  under  any  circumstances, 
was  highly  improbable.  But  why  should  we  endeavor  to  escape 
from  this  vessel  ?  The  countries  were  at  peace :  we  had  just 
bought  Louisiana  from  France,  and  paid  fifteen  millions  cf  dol 
lars  for  it,  thereby  not  only  getting  the  country  ourselves,  but 
keeping  it  out  of  the  hands  of  John  Bull,  and  we  were  said  to 
be  excellent  friends,  again.  Then  the  Dawn  had  extricated  her 
self  from  English  clutches,  only  a  day  or  two  before ;  no  doubt 
the  lugger  would  give  us  all  the  aid  we  could  rcqiiirc. 

"  She  is  French,  for  a  thousand  dollars,  Moses !"  I  cried, 
lowering  my  glass  from  the  first  good  look  of  the  stranger ; 
"  and  by  keeping  away  two  points,  we  shall  speak  her  in  fifteen 
minutes." 

"  Ay,  French,"  rejoined  the  mate,  "  but,  blast  'em  all  round, 
I'd  much  rather  have  nothing  to  do  with  any  of  the  rogues.  I'll 
tell  you  how  it  is,  Miles,  these  arc  onmoralizing  times,  and  the 
sea  is  getting  to  be  sprinkled  with  so  many  Van  Tassels,  that 
I'm  afeard  you  and  I'll  be  just  that  dear,  good  old  soul,  my 
mother,  and  little  Kitty,  to  be  frightened,  or,  if  not  exactly 
frightened,  to  be  wronged  out  of  our  just  rights." 

"  Little  fear  of  that  this  time,  Moses — this  is  a  Frenchman ; 
as  we  are  bound  to  a  French  port,  he'll  not  hesitate  to  lend  us 
half  a  dozen  hands,  in  order  to  help  us  along." 

"  Ay,  and  take  half  the  ship  and  cargo  for  salvage  !  I  know 
these  piccaroons,  and  you  ought  to  know  'em  too,  Miles,  for  it's 
only  two  or  three  years  since  you  were  a  prisoner  of  war  among 
'em.  That  was  a  delightful  feelin',  -I  rather  conclude." 

"  Times  are  altered,  Moses,  and  I'll  show  confidence  in  the 
change.  Keep  the  ship  away,  Neb — so;  meet  her — steer  for 
the  lugger's  foremast ;  that  will  do." 

Of  course,  these  orders  soon  brought  the  two  vessels  along 
side  of  each  other.  As  the  lugger  approached,  we  made  her 
11 


242  MILES     WALLINGFOKD. 

out  to  be  a  stout,  bxit  active  craft,  of  sixteen  guns,  and  appar 
ently  full  of  men.  She  set  the  "  tricolor"  when  half  a  mile  dis 
tant,  sure  of  her  prey,  should  we  turn  out  to  be  a  prize.  We 
showed  him  the  stars  and  stripes  of  course,  fancying  he  would 
treat  them  as  a  friend. 

It  was  not  long  before  both  vessels  had  rounded-to,  and  prep 
arations  were  made  to  hail. 

"  What  sheep's  zat  I"  demanded  one  in  good  broken  English. 

"  The  Dawn,  of  New  York — may  I  ask  the  name  of  your 
lugger  ?" 

"  Le  Polisson — corsair  Franfais — what  you  load,  eh  3" 

"  Sugar  and  coffee,  with  cochineal,  and  a  few  other  articles." 

"  Peste  ! — Vere  you  boun',  monsieur,  s'il  vous  plait  ?" 

"  Hamburg." 

"  Diablo  ! — zis  is  non  zc  chcmin.  How  you  came  here,  sair, 
viz  ze  vin'  at  sow-vess  ?" 

"  We  are  going  in  to  Brest,  being  in  need  of  a  little  succor." 

"  You  vish  salvage,  eh !  Parblcu,  we  can  do  you  zat  mosh 
good,  as  veil  as  anodair." 

I  was  then  ordered,  privateer  fashion,  to  lower  a  boat,  and 
to  repair  on  board  the  lugger  with  my  papers.  WThen  told  I 
had  no  stern  or  quarter-boat  to  lower,  the  Frenchman  mani 
fested  surprise ;  but  he  sent  his  own  yawl  for  me.  My  recep 
tion  on  board  the  Polisson  was  a  little  free  for  Frenchmen.  The 
captain  received  me  in  person,  and  I  saw,  at  a  glance,  I  had  to 
deal  with  men  who  were  out  on  the  high  seas,  with  the  fear 
of  English  prison-ships  constantly  before  their  eyes,  in  quest  of 
gold.  I  was  not  invited  into  the  cabin,  a  crowded,  dark  and 
dirty  hole,  for,  in  that  day,  the  French  were  notoriously  foul  in 
their  vessels,  but  was  directed  to  show  my  papers  seated  on  a 
lien-coop. 

As  every  thing  was  regular  about  the  register,  manifest,  and 
clearance,  I  could  see  that  Monsieur  Gallois  was  not  in  a  partic 
ularly  good  humor.  lie  had  one,  whom  I  took  to  be  a  rene 
gade  Englishman,  with  him,  to  aid  in  the  examination,  though, 
as  this  man  never  spoke  in  my  presence,  I  was  unable  precisely 


MILES     W  A  LLIN  GFO  RD.  243 

to  ascertain  who  he  was.  The  two  had  a  long  consultation  in 
private,  after  the  closest  scrutiny  could  detect  no  flaw  in  tho 
papers.  Then  Monsieur  Gallois  approached  and  renewed  the 
discourse. 

"  Vy  you  havc  no  boat,  sair  ?"  he  asked. 

"  I  lost  my  boat,  three  days  since,  about  a  hundred  leagues  to 
the  southward  and  westward." 

"  It  is  not  have  bad  veddair !  Why  you  got  no  more  marins 
in  your  sheep  ? — eh !" 

I  saw  it  would  be  best  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  at  once ;  for, 
were  I  to  get  any  aid  from  this  lugger,  the  facts,  sooner  or 
later,  must  be  made  known.  Accordingly,  I  gave  the  French 
man,  and  his  English-looking  companion,  a  full  account  of  what 
had  occurred  between  us  and  the  Speedy.  After  this  narra 
tive,  there  was  another  long  conference  between  Monsieur 
Gallois  and  his  friend.  Then  the  boat  was  again  manned,  and 
the  captain  of  the  lugger,  accompanied  by  his  privy  counsellor 
and  myself,  went  on  board  the  Dawn.  Here,  a  very  cursory 
examination  satisfied  my  visitors  of  the  truth  of  my  story. 

I  confess,  I  expected  some  commendation  from  a  Frenchman, 
when  he  heard  the  ready  manner  in  which  we  had  got  our  vessel 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  Philistines.  No  such  thing  ;  an  expres 
sive  "  bon"  had  escaped  Monsieur  Gallois,  once  or  twice,  it  is 
true ;  but  it  was  apparent  he  was  looking  much  sharper  for 
some  pretext  to  make  us  a  prize  himself,  than  for  reasons  to 
commend  our  conduct.  Each  new  aspect  of  the  affair  was  close 
ly  scanned,  and  a  new  conference  with  the  adviser  was  held, 
apart. 

"  Sair,"  said  Monsieur  Gallois,  "  I  have  mosh  regret,  but,  your 
sheep  is  bon  prize.  You  have  been  prisonnicr  to  ze  English, 
•56  enemy  of  la  France,  and  you  shall  not  capture  yourself. 
L'Amerique  is  not  at  war— is  neutral,  as  you  shall  say,  and  ze 
Americains  cannot  make  ze  prize.  I  considair  your  ship,  mon 
sieur,  as  in  ze  hand  of  ze  English,  and  shall  capture  him.  Mes 
regrets  sont  vifs,  mais,  que  voulez-vous?  Ze  corsair  most  do  his 
devoir,  ze  same  as  ze  sheep  national.  I  shall  send  you  to  Brest, 


244  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

vere,  if  you  be  not  sold  par  un  decret,  I  shall  be  too  happy  to 
restore  votre  bailment.  Allans  /" 

Here  was  a  denouement  to  the  affair,  with  a  vengeance !  J 
was  to  be  captured,  because  I  had  been  captured.  "  Once  a 
corporal,  always  a  corporal."  As  the  English  had  taken  me, 
the  French  would  take  me.  A  prize  to-day,  you  must  be  a 
prize  to-morrow.  I  have  always  thought  the  case  of  the  Dawn 
was  the  first  of  the  long  series  of  wrongs  that  were  subsequently 
committed  on  American  commerce,  in  virtue  of  this  same  prin 
ciple,  a  little  expanded  and  more  effectually  carried  out,  perhaps, 
and  which,  in  the  end,  terminated  by  blockading  all  Europe,  and 
interdicting  the  high  seas  on  paper. 

I  knew  the  uselessness  of  remonstrating  with  a  rapacious  pri- 
vateersman.  "  Let  him  send  me  in,"  I  thought  to  myself,  at 
first ;  "  it  is  just  where  I  wish  to  go ;  once  in,  the  minister  must 
get  me  clear.  The  fellow  will  only  be  the  dupe  of  his  own  cov- 
etousness,  and  I  shall  profit  by  it,  in  the  degree  that  he  will  be 
a  loserJ." 

I  presume  Monsieur  Gallois  entertained  a  very  different  view 
of  the  matter,  for  he  manifested  great  alacrity  iu  throwing  a 
crew  of  no  less  than  seventeen  souls,  big  and  little,  on  board  us. 
I  watched  these  operations  in  silence,  as  did  Neb  and  Diogenes. 
As  for  Marble,  he  lighted  a  cigar,  took  his  seat  on  the  windlass, 
and  sat  in  dignified  anger,  ready  to  explode  on  the  slightest  oc 
casion,  yet  apprehensive  he  might  be  sent  out  of  the  ship  should 
he  betray  one  half  of  what  he  felt.  Out  of  the  ship  neither  of 
us  was  sent,  however,  the  French  probably  feeling  indisposed  to 
be  troubled  with  passengers  in  the  narrow  quarters  they  had  for 
themselves. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  2-45 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

"  You  are  safe ; 

Nay,  more— almost  triumphant    Listen,  then, 
And  hear  my  words  of  truth." 

MAUINO  FAUERO. 

IT  was  just  four  o'clock,  p.  M.,  when  the  Dawn  and  the  Polls- 
son  parted  company,  the  former  steering  on  her  old  course  for 
Brest,  Avhile  the  latter  continued  her  cruise.  The  lugger  sailed 
like  a  witch,  and  away  she  went  toward  the  chops  of  the  Chan 
nel  on  a  bowline,  leaving  us  to  stand  toward  the  French  coast, 
close-hauled,  also,  but  on  the  opposite  tack. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  dwell  on  the  feelings  with  which 
we  four,  who  were  eye-witnesses  of  all  that  passed,  witnessed 
the  proceedings.  Even  Diogenes  was  indignant.  As  'for  Mar 
ble,  I  have  already  alluded  to  his  state  of  mind,  and  if  I  had 
not,  the  following  dialogue,  which  took  place  at  sunset,  (the 
first  that  occurred  between  us  in  private  since  the  second  cap 
ture — while  the  French  were  eating  their  suppers,)  would  serve 
to  explain  it. 

"  Well,  Miles,"  the  mate  dryly  observed,  "  whatever  we  have 
to  do,  must  be  done  at  once.  When  shall  we  begin  ? — in  the 
middle,  or  in  the  morning  watch  ?" 

"  Begin  what,  Moses  ?"  I  asked,  a  little  surprised  at  the  set 
tled  manner  in  which  he  put  his  question. 

"  To  throw  these  Frenchmen  overboard.  Of  course,  yo-i  don't 
mean  to  let  them  carry  your  ship  into  Brest  ?" 

"  Why  not  ?  We  were  bound  to  Brest  when  we  fell  in  with 
them,  and  if  they  will  take  us  there,  it  will  only  save  us  the 
trouble  of  doing  it  ourselves." 

"Don't  be  deceived  by  any  such  hope,  Miles.     I've  been  in 


24t5  MILES      W  A  LL  I  N  G  F  O  KD. 

the  hands  of  Frenchmen  before  I  knew  you,  and  there  is  little 
hope  of  getting  out  of  them,  so  long  as  the  ship  and  cargo  will 
pay  for  detention.  No,  no,  my  dear  boy,  you  know  I  love 
you  better  than  any  thing  on  'arth,  my  dear  old  soul  of  a 
mother  and  little  Kitty  excepted,  for  it  wouldn't  be  religious 
to  like  you  better  than  my  own  flesh  and  blood ;  but  after 
these  two,  I  like  you  better  than  any  one  on  'arth;  and  I  can't 
be  quiet  and  see  you  run  your  property  into  the  fire.  Never 
let  the  ship  go  into  France  after  what  has  happened,  if  you 
can  help  it." 

"  Can  we  possibly  help  it  ?  Or  do  you  propose  that  four  men 
shall  retake  this  vessel  from  seventeen  ?" 

"  Well,  the  odds  arc  not  so  great,  Miles,"  Marble  rejoined, 
looking  coolly  round  at  the  noisy  set  of  little  Frenchmen,  who 
were  all  talking  together  over  their  soup ;  certainly  not  a  very 
formidable  band  in  a  hand-to-hand  encounter,  though  full  of  fire 
and  animation.  "  There  are  four  of  us,  and  only  seventeen  of 
them,  such  as  they  arc.  I  rather  think  we  could  handle  'em 
all,  in  a  regular  set-to,  with  fists.  There's  Neb,  he's  as  strong 
as  a  jackass ;  Diogenes  is  another  Hercules ;  and  neither  you 
nor  I  am  a  kitten.  I  consider  you  as  a  match,  in  a  serious 
scuffle,  for  the  best  four  among  them  chaps." 

This  was  not  said  in  the  least  boastingly,  though  certainly 
the  estimate  of  comparative  force  made  by  my  mate  was  enor 
mously  out  of  the  way.  It  was  true,  that  we  four  were  un 
usually  powerful  and  athletic  men ;  but  it  was  also  true,  that  six 
of  the  French  might  very  well  be  placed  in  the  same  category. 
I  was  not  subject  to  the  vulgar  prejudice  of  national  superiori 
ty,  I  hope ;  one  of  the  strongest  of  all  the  Avcaknesses  of  our 
very  weak  nature.  I  have  never  yet  been  in  a  country,  of 
which  the  people  did  not  fancy  themselves,  in  all  particulars, 
the  salt  of  the  earth  ;  though  there  are  very  different  degrees 
in  the  modes  of  bragging  on  such  subjects.  In  the  present  in 
stance,  Marble  had  not  the  least  idea  of  bragging,  however ; 
for  he  really  believed  we  four,  in  an  open  onslaught,  fire-arms 
out  of  the  question,  might  have  managed  those  seventeen 


MILES      WALL  INGFOIID.  247 

Frenchmen.  I  think,  myself,  we  might  have  got  along  with 
twice  our  number,  taking  a  fair  average  of  the  privateer's  men, 
and  reducing  the  struggle  to  the  arms  of  nature  ;  but  I  should 
have  hesitated  a  long  time  in  making  an  open  attack  on  even 
them. 

Still,  I  began  to  regard  my  chances  of  escaping,  should  we 
be  sent  into  a  French  port  by  the  privateer,  as  far  less  certain 
than  they  had  appeared  at  first.  Marble  had  so  much  to  say 
of  the  anarchists  in  France,  as  he  had  known  them  in  the 
worst  period  of  the  Revolution,  and  so  many  stories  to  tell  of 
ships  seized  and  of  merchants  ruined,  that  my  confidence  in  the 
right  was  shaken.  Bonaparte  was  then  in  the  height  of  his 
consular  power — on  the  point  of  becoming  emperor,  indeed — 
and  he  had  commenced  this  new  war  with  a  virulence  and  dis 
regard  of  acknowledged  rights,  in  the  detention  of  all  the 
English  then  resident  in  France,  that  served  to  excite  additional 
distrust.  Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  comprehensiveness  and 
vastncss  of  the  genius  of  Napoleon,  as  a  soldier  and  statesman, 
I  presume  few  upright  and  enlightened  men  can  now  be  found 
to  eulogize  his  respect  for  public  Ia\v.  At  any  rate,  I  began  to 
have  lively  misgivings  on  the  subject ;  and  the  consultation  be 
tween  my  mate  and  myself  terminated  in  our  coming  to  a  reso 
lution  to  serve  the  French  prize  crew  substantially  as  we  had 
served  the  English  prize  crew,  if  possible ;  varying  the  mode 
only  to  suit  the  new  condition  of  things.  This  last  precaution 
was  necessary,  as,  in  the  fulness  of  my  confidence,  I  had  made 
Monsieur  Gallois  acquainted  with  all  the  circumstances  of  throw 
ing  the  fender  overboard,  and  the  manner  in  which  we  had  got 
possession  of  the  ship.  It  was  not  to  be  expected,  therefore, 
that  particular  artifice  could  be  made  to  succeed  with  him. 

It  must  have  been  the  result  of  prejudice,  and  of  constant 
reading  of  articles  extracted  from  the  English  journals,  that  in 
fluenced  me ;  but  I  confess  it  seemed  a  much  easier  matter  to 
retake  my  ship  from  seventeen  Frenchmen,  than  from  twelve 
Englishmen.  I  was  not  so  besotted  as  to  suppose  surprise,  or 
artifice,  would  not  be  necessary  in  cither  case;  but,  had  tho 


248  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

issue  been  made  up  on  brute  force,  I  should  have  begun  the  fray 
with  greater  confidence  in  the  first  than  in  the  last  case.  All 
this  would  have  been  very  wrong  in  our  particular  situation, 
though,  as  a  rule  and  as  applied  to  sea-faring  men,  it  might  be 
more  questionable.  How  often,  and  how  much,  have  I  seeu 
reason  to  regret  the  influence  that  is  thus  silently  obtained 
amongst  us,  by  our  consenting  to  becoming  the  retailers  of 
other  people's  prejudices  ?  One  of  the  reasons  why  we  have 
so  long  been  mere  serviles  on  this  point,  is  owing  to  the  incom 
pleteness  of  the  establishments  of  the  different  leading  presses 
of  the  country.  We  multiply,  instead  of  enlarging  these  enter 
prises.  The  want  of  concentration  of  talent  compels  those  who 
manage  them  to  resort  to  the  scissors  instead  of  the  pen ;  and 
it  is  almost  as  necessary  for  an  American  editor  to  be  expert 
with  the  shears,  as  it  is  for  a  tailor.  Thus  the  public  is  com 
pelled  to  receive  hashes,  instead  of  fresh  dishes  ;  and  things  that 
come  from  a  distance,  notoriously  possessing  a  charm,  it  gets 
the  original  cookery  of  London,  instead  of  that  of  their  own 
country. 

Prejudice  or  not,  confidence  is  not  a  bad  thing  when  a  con 
flict  is  unavoidable.  It  may  be  well  to  respect  your  enemy 
down  to  the  very  moment  of  making  the  charge ;  but,  that 
commenced,  the  more  he  is  despised,  the  better.  When  Di 
ogenes  and  Neb  were  told  it  would  be  necessary  to  go  over 
again  the  work  so  lately  thought  to  be  completed,  neither  of 
the  negroes  manifested  the  least  concern.  Diogenes  had  been 
in  the  Crisis,  as  well  as  Neb,  and  he  had  got  to  entertain  a  very 
Anglican  sort  of  notion  of  French  prowess  on  the  water;  and,  as 
for  my  own  black,  he  would  have  followed  without  the  slightest 
remonstrance,  wherever  "  Masser  Mile  please  to  lead." 

"  They's  only  French,"  said  Diogenes,  in  a  philosophical  sort 
of  way ;  "  we  can  handle  'cm  like  children." 

I  would  not  discourage  this  notion,  though  I  saw  its  folly. 
Telling  our  two  supporters  to  hold  themselves  ready  for  an  at 
tack,  Marble  and  I  left  them,  to  cogitate  and  commence  the 
mannei  of  proceeding.  Whatever  was  done,  must  be  done  that 


MILES      WALLINGFORD  249 

night ;  there  being  reason  to  think  the  ship  would  get  in  some 
where,  next  day. 

The  name  of  our  prize  master  was  Lc  Gros.  He  was  not  aptly 
designated,  however,  being  a  little,  shrivelled,  yellow-faced  fol 
low,  who  did  not  seem  to  be  a  Hercules  at  all.  Nevertheless, 
unlike  Sennit,  he  was  all  vigilance  and  activity.  He  never  left 
the  deck,  and,  being  so  near  in  with  the  coast,  I  felt  pretty  cer 
tain  we  should  have  his  company  above  board  all  night.  What 
ever  was  attempted,  therefore,  must  be  attempted  in  defiance  of 
his  watchfulness.  Nor  was  this  all;  additional  prudence  was 
necessary,  since  we  were  so  near  the  coast  as  greatly  to  increase 
the  chaucc  of  our  being  picked  up  by  some  other  French  cruiser, 
should  we  even  escape  from  this.  Extreme  caution  was  pur  cue, 
therefore,  and  Marble  and  I  separated,  seemingly  each  to  take 
his  repose,  with  a  perfect  understanding  on  all  these  points. 

Monsieur  Le  Gros  paid  no  attention  to  the  state-rooms,  or  to 
the  accommodations  below.  His  whole  care  was  bestowed  on  the 
ship.  Apprehension  of  falling  in  with  some  British  cruiser,  kept 
his  eyes  wide  open,  and  his  gaze  constantly  sweeping  the  hori 
zon,  so  far  as  the  obscurity  would  allow.  I  was  incessantly  on 
the  alert  myself,  stealing  up  from  the  cabin,  as  far  as  the  com 
panion-way,  at  least  a  dozen  times  in  the  course  of  the  night,  in 
the  hope  of  finding  him  asleep ;  but,  on  each  occasion,  I  saw 
him  moving  up  and  down  the  quarter-deck,  in  rapid  motion, 
armed  to  the  teeth,  and  seemingly  insensible  to  fatigue,  and  all 
the  other  weaknesses  of  nature.  It  was  useless  to  attempt  to 
find  him  off  his  guard,  and  worn  out,  Marble  and  myself  fell  into 
deep  sleep,  about  three  in  the  morning,  out  of  pure  exhaustion. 
As  for  the  two  negroes,  they  slept  the  entire  night  waiting  our 
summons  for  their  rallying  to  the  work.  Neb,  in  particular,  had 
all  the  absence  of  responsibility  that  distinguishes  the  existence 
of  a  slave,  feeling  very  much  the  same  unconcern  as  to  the  move 
ments  of  the  vessel,  as  any  other  human  being  feels  in  connection 
with  those  of  the  earth  in  which  he  is  a  passenger. 

It  was  ten  o'clock  when  I  awoke,  refreshed,  but  disappointed. 
Marble  was  still  snoring  in  his  berth,  and  I  was  compelled  to  give 


250  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

him  a  call.  I  could  perceive  there  was  a  breeze,  and  that  the 
ship  was  going  through  the  water  fast ;  by  her  lurching,  she  was 
close-hauled.  It  takes  a  seaman  but  a  minute  or  two  to  throw 
on  his  loose  attire,  and  no  time  was  lost  on  the  present  occasion. 
While  my  mate  and  I  were  thus  engaged,  the  former  happened 
to  cast  a  look  out  of  the  cabin  windows,  which  were  open  on  ac 
count  of  the  warmth  of  the  weather,  and  offered  no  obstruction 
to  a  long  view  of  the  ocean  directly  in  our  wake. 

"Ilalloo,  Miles!"  Marble  exclaimed;  "by  Jove,  we  are  chased! 
Such  is  the  secret  of  Mr.  Frog's  being  so  much  alive  this  fine 
morning.  Yonder  comes  a  frigate,  or  ray  name  is  not  Oloflf 
Marble." 

A  frigate  there  was,  sure  enough.  She  was  about  two  leagues 
astern  of  us,  and  resembled  a  pyramidal  cloud  moving  along 
the  water,  so  completely  were  her  spars  covered  with  canvas. 
That  she  was  an  Englishman  was  more  than  probable,  from  the 
cruising  ground,  as  well  as  from  the  fact  of  the  prize  crew 
running  from  her.  In  that  day,  no  French  ship-of-war  loitered 
long  at  any  particular  point,  her  enemies  being  so  numerous  as 
to  render  pursuit  certain,  ere  many  hours  could  elapse.  After 
determining  these  facts  in  our  minds,  Marble  and  I  went  on 
deck. 

My  first  look  was  ahead.  To  my  deep  regret,  there  lay  the 
land,  actually  within  three  leagues  of  us  !  The  wind  was  fresh 
at  north-east,  and  Monsieur  Le  Gros  appeared  to  bo  steering  for 
a  group  of  islands  that  lay  a  little,  and  ever  so  little,  on  our  lee- 
bow.  Brest  was  out  of  the  question ;  if  AVC  could  get  in  with 
the  land,  among  these  islands,  it  was  as  much  as  we  could  do, 
before  the  racer  astern  would  be  up  to  us.  The  Frenchmen  were 
evidently  alarmed ;  an  English  prison-ship,  with  all  its  known 
horrors,  being  very  vividly  placed  before  their  eyes.  Monsieur 
Lc  Gros  screamed,  and  gave  twenty  orders  in  a  minute,  while 
the  other  sixteen  men  made  more  noise  than  would  be  heard 
among  a  thousand  Americans.  Heavens  !  what  a  clamor  these 
chaps  kept  up,  and  all  about  nothing,  too,  the  ship  having 
every  stitch  of  canvas  on  her  that  would  draw.  1  felt  like  the 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  251 

Arab  who  owned  tbc  rarest  marc  in  the  desert,  but  who  was 
coming  up  with  the  thief  who  had  stolen  her,  himself  riding  an 
inferior  beast,  and  all  because  the  rogue  did  not  understand  the 
secret  of  making  the  mare  do  her  best.  "  Pinch  her  right  car, 
or  I  shall  overtake  you,"  called  out  the  Arab ;  and  more  than 
twenty  times  was  I  disposed  to  trim  the  Dawn's  sails,  and  send 
Neb  to  the  wheel,  in  order  to  escape  the  disgrace  of  being  over 
hauled  by  the  frigate.  There  was  a  chance  for  me,  however,  in 
this  second  recapture,  and  I  thought  it  preferable  to  let  things 
take  their  course.  My  new  conquerors  might  be  mystified, 
whereas,  there  was  little  hope  for  us,  should  Monsieur  Le  Gros 
get  in,  after  such  an  uproar. 

In  little  more  than  an  hour's  time,  the  Dawn  began  to  short 
en  sail,  hauling  up  her  courses  and  topgallant-sails,  rocks  show 
ing  themselves  within  half  a  mile  of  her.  A  large  boat  met  us 
here,  coming  alongside  as  soon  as  certain  who  we  were.  The 
people  in  this  boat  were  fishermen,  and  were  so  much  accustom 
ed  to  all  the  movements  of  the  coast,  that  they  understood  the 
nature  of  the  affair  as  soon  as  they  were  apprised  of  our  char 
acter.  Of  course,  they  were  eagerly  questioned  touching  the 
possibility  of  the  Dawn's  being  carried  in  through  any  of  the 
rocky-looking  passages  that  lay  before  us.  Monsieur  Le  Gros 
looked  very  blank  when  he  was  told  that  all  his  hopes  lay  in 
there  being  sufficient  water  in.  one  channel,  and  of  that  the  fish 
ermen  confessed  their  own  ignorance.  If  the  noise  and  confu 
sion  were  annoying  before  these  men  came  alongside,  it  was  as 
tounding  afterward.  All  this  time  the  frigate  was  drawing  near 
fast,  and  half  an  hour  would  certainly  bring  her  within  gunshot. 
There  is  something  intoxicating  in  a  race.  I  felt  a  strong  de 
sire  to  get  away  from  the  Englishman  at  the  very  moment  I  be 
lieved  my  chances  for  justice  would  be  worst  in  the  hands  cf 
the  French.  Feeling  the  necessity  of  losing  no  time,  I  now 
made  a  lively  appeal  to  Monsieur  Lc  Gros,  myself,  proposing 
that  we  should  both  go  in  with  the  fishing-boat  and  examine 
the  passage  ourselves.  By  using  proper  activity,  the  whole 
might  be  done  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour;  we  should  then  know 


252  MILES      \V  A  L  L  I  N  G  V  O  II  D . 

whether  to  cany  the  ship  in,  or  to  run  on  the  rocks  and  save 
what  we  could  of  the  cargo,  by  means  of  lighters. 

Order  on  board  ship  is  out  of  the  question  without  coolness, 
silence,  and  submission.  A  fussy  sailor  is  always  a  bad  sailor ; 
calmness  and  quiet  being  the  great  requisites  for  the  profession, 
after  the  general  knowledge  is  obtained.  No  really  good  offi 
cer  ever  makes  a  noise  except  when  the  roar  of  the  elements 
renders  it  indispensable,  in  order  to  be  heard.  In  that  day, 
French  ships-of-war  did  not  understand  this  important  secret, 
much  less  French  privateers.  I  can  only  liken  the  clamor  that 
Avas  now  going  on  in  the  Dawn's  lee-gangway  to  that  which  is 
raised  by  Dutch  fishwomen  on  the  arrival  of  the  boats  from  sea 
with  their  cargoes.  To  talk  of  Billingsgate  in  comparison  with 
these  women,  is  to  do  the  Holland  and  Flemish  ladies  gross 
injustice,  English  phlegm  being  far  more  silent  than  Dutch 
phlegm.  No  sooner  was  my  proposition  made  than  it  was  ac 
cepted  by  acclamation,  and  the  privateersmen  began  to  pour 
into  the  boat,  heels  overhead,  without  order,  and  I  may  say 
without  orders.  Monsieur  Le  Gros  was  carried  off  in  the  cur 
rent,  and,  when  the  fishermen  cast  off,  but  three  Frenchmen 
were  left  in  the  ship ;  all  the  others  had  been  swept  away  by  a 
zeal  to  be  useful,  and  that  was  a  little  quickened,  perhaps,  by 
the  horrors  of  an  English  prison-ship. 

Even  Diogenes  laughed  at  the  random  manner  in  which  we 
were  thus  left  in  possession  of  our  own.  There  is  no  question 
that  the  French  intended  to  return,  while  there  is  no  question  it 
was  also  their  intention  to  go.  In  short,  they  were  in  a  tumult, 
and  acted  under  an  impulse  instead  of  under  the  government  of 
their  reasons. 

"You  will  have  the  complaisance,  Monsieur  Walfingford," 
cried  Le  Gros,  as  the  boat  started  away  from  the  ship's  side, 
"  to  fill  the  topsail,  and  run  for  the  passage,  when  we  wave  OUT 
hats." 

"  Ay,  ay,"  I  answered ;  "  leave  it  to  me  to  fill  the  topsails, 
and  to  give  the  John  Bulls  the  slip." 

This  was  said  in  French,  and  it  drew  cries  of  "  Bon !"  uud 


MILES      WALLING  FORD.  253 

of  "  Vive  la  France  !"  from  all  in  llic  boat.  What  the  fellows 
thought,  I  will  not  pretend  to  say ;  but  if  they  thought  they 
were  to  get  on  board  the  Dawn  again,  they  did  not  know  the 
men  they  left  behind  them.  As  for  the  Frenchmen  who  re 
mained,  Marble  and  I  could  have  managed  them  alone ;  and  I 
was  glad  they  Avcrc  with  us,  since  they  could  be  made  to  pull 
and  haul. 

The  ship  was  under  her  three  topsails,  spanker,  and  jib,  when 
Monsieur  Le  Gros  thus  singularly  gave  her  up  to  my  control ; 
the  main-yard  lying  square.  My  first  step  was  to  fill  the  topsail 
and  gather  way  on  the  vessel.  This  was  soon  done ;  and  keep 
ing  away  I  stood  on  toward  the  rocks,  which  soon  bore  on  our 
weather-bow,  determined  to  run  as  near  them  as  I  dared,  think 
ing  to  frighten  the  Englishman  so  much,  as  to  induce  him  to 
keep  at  arm's  length.  I  might  cast  away  the  ship,  it  is  true ; 
but  even  this  would  be  preferable  to  falling  again  into  English 
hands,  with  all  the  occurrences  still  so  recent.  A  year  or  two 
later,  the  affair  of  the  Spcedy's  men  might  be  forgotten;  but 
while  a  thing  is  fresh  there  is  always  some  danger  of  its  creating 
feeling.  At  least,  thus  I  reasoned,  and  thus  I  acted. 

Once  more  I  had  the  Dawn  under  my  own  orders ;  and  could 
I  keep  the  frigate  out  of  gunshot,  I  cared  very  little  for  Mon 
sieur  Le  Gros.  At  first,  the  privateersmen  supposed  that,  in 
filling  away,  I  merely  intended  to  further  their  views ;  but  no 
sooner  did  they  perceive  the  ship  standing  on  to  leeward  of  the 
passage,  than  the  truth  seemed  to  flash  on  their  befogged  facul 
ties.  This  was  not  until  the  depth  of  water  was  ascertained  to 
be  sufficient  for  their  purposes ;  and  such  a  flourishing  of  tar 
paulins  and  greasy  caps  as  succeeded,  I  had  not  witnessed  for 
many  a  day.  All  these  signals  and  calls,  however,  were  disre 
garded  ;  but  away  went  the  Dawn,  with  her  yards  just  rounded 
in  a  point,  with  the  wind  fairly  abeam,  coasting  along  as  near 
the  islands  as  I  thought  it  at  all  prudent  to  venture.  As  for  the 
frigate,  she  was  still  keeping  her  luff,  in  order  to  get  far  enough 
to  windward  to  make  sure  of  her  prey.  At  this  moment,  tho 
two  ships  might  have  been  a  league  asunder. 


254  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

Monsieur  Lc  Gros  was  no  sooner  aware  of  the  trick  I  had 
played  him,  than  out  he  dashed  with  his  fishing-boat,  making 
sail  in  chase,  and  helping  his  dull  craft  along  with  half  a  dozen 
oars.  Seeing  this,  I  let  the  foresail  drop,  and  sheeted  home 
and  hoisted  the  main-topgallant-sail ;  not  that  I  felt  at  all  afraid 
of  the  boat,  but  because  it  was  my  wish  to  avoid  bloodshed,  if 
possible.  Among  the  other  absurdities  the  French  had  com 
mitted  in  their  haste  to  get  away  from  the  frigate,  was  that  of 
leaving  six  or  eight  muskets,  with  several  cartridge-boxes,  be 
hind  them.  With  these  weapons  it  would  have  been  easy  for 
us  to  have  given  the  privatcersmen  such  a  hint,  as  would  not 
fail  to  keep  them  at  bay.  Then  I  always  had  my  pistols,  which 
were  not  only  valuable  implements,  but  were  double-barrelled 
and  Avcll  loaded.  Our  only  ground  of  alarm,  therefore,  came 
from  the  Englishman. 

Possibly  Monsieur  Le  Gros  thought  differently,  for  his  chase 
was  animated  and  apparently  in  earnest.  But,  notwithstanding 
all  his  zeal,  the  Dawn  left  him  astern,  going  through  the  water 
at  the  rate  of  about  six  knots.  But  the  frigate  was  coming  up 
at  the  rate  of  eight  knots,  making  it  certain  that  she  would  get 
us  under  her  guns  in  an  hour  or  two  at  most,  unless  some  great 
advantage  was  obtained  over  her  by  means  of  the  complicated 
navigation  and  shallow  water. 

When  at  Bordeaux,  the  previous  year,  I  had  purchased  a 
chart  of  the  French  coast,  with  a  book  containing  directions 
similar  to  those  \vhich  are  to  be  found  in  our  own  "  Coast  ing 
Pilot."  As  a  matter  of  course,  I  had  them  both  with  me,  and 
[  found  them  of  great  service  on  this  occasion.  The  text  de 
scribed  the  islands  we  were  near  as  being  separated  by  narrow 
channels  of  deep  water,  in  which  the  danger  was  principally 
owing  to  sunken  rocks.  It  was  these  rocks  that  had  induced 
the  fishermen  to  pronounce  the  passages  impracticable ;  and  my 
coasting  directions  cautioned  all  navigators  to  be  wary  in  ap 
proaching  them.  The  Dawn,  however,  was  in  precisely  the 
situation  which  might  render  these  rocks  of  the  last  service  to 
her;  and  preferring  shipwreck  to  seeing  my  vessel  in  cither 


MILES     WALLINGFOKD.  255 

English  or  French  hands,  again,  I  determined  to  trust  to  the 
very  dangers  of  the  navigation  as  ray  safeguard.  I  might  go 
clear  of  the  bottom,  but  it  was  certain,  if  I  kept  outside,  I  could 
not  escape  from  the  frigate.  An  accidental  occurrence,  in  con 
nection  with  the  boat,  favored  us,  and  I  was  not  slow  to  profit 
by  the  advantage  it  offered.  Finding  it  impossible  to  come  up 
with  the  ship  by  keeping  in  her  wake,  Monsieur  Le  Gros  had 
taken  a  short  cut,  in  the  boat,  between  some  islets  that  we  were 
obliged  to  round,  and  he  actually  came  out  ahead  of  us.  In 
stead  of  endeavoring  to  close  with  the  ship,  however,  he  led 
Into  an  excessively  narrow  passage,  making  furious  gestures  for 
ns  to  follow.  This  was  at  the  instant  when  the  frigate  fired  her 
first  gun  at  us,  the  shot  of  which  just  fell  a  very  little  short. 
Did  we  pass  the  channel  in  which  Monsieur  Le  Gros  had  carried 
*he  boat,  we  should  fall  to  leeward  of  the  Avhole  group  of  islands 
• — or  islets  would  be  the  better  word — when  all  would  literally 
depend  on  our  heels.  There  \vas  but  a  moment  in  which  to 
decide ;  in  another  minute,  the  ship  would  be  past  the  opening, 
which  could  only  be  regained  by  tacking,  if  it  could  be  regain 
ed  at  ah1.  I  gave  the  order  to  luff. 

Our  three  Frenchmen,  fancying  themselves  now  certainly 
bound  to  la  belle  France,  were  as  active  as  cats.  Neb  and 
Diogenes  throwing  their  powerful  force  on  the  braces  with  a 
^ood  will,  too,  we  soon  had  the  Dawn  braced  sharp  up,  heading 
well  to  windward  of  the  passage.  Monsieur  Le  Gros  was  do- 
lighted.  Apparently,  he  thought  all  was  right  again ;  and  he 
led  the  Avay,  flourishing  both  hands,  while  all  in  the  boat,  fisher 
men  inclusive,  were  bawling,  and  shouting,  and  gesticulating,  in 
a  Avay  that  would  certainly  have  confused  us,  had  I  cared  a 
straw  about  them.  I  thought  it  well  enough  to  follow  the  boat ; 
but  as  for  their  cries,  they  were  disregarded.  Had  Monsieur 
Le  Gros  seen  fit  to  wait  for  the  ship  in  the  narrowest  part  of  the 
inlet,  he  might  have  embarrassed  us ;  but,  so  far  from  this,  he 
appeared  to  be  entirely  carried  away  by  the  excitement  of  the 
chase,  and  was  as  eager  to  push  ahead,  as  a  boy  who  was  strug 
gling  to  be  first  in  at  the  goal. 


256  MILES      WALLINGFOI5.D. 

It  was  a  nervous  instant  when  the  Dawn's  bow  first  entered 
the  narrow  passage.  The  width,  from  rock '  to  rock,  speaking 
only  of  visible  things,  might  have  been  thirty  fathoms ;  and  this 
strait  narrowed,  rather  than  widened,  for  several  hundred  feet, 
until  it  was  reduced  fully  one  third.  The  tide  ran  like  a  mill- 
tail,  and  it  was,  perhaps,  lucky  for  us  that  there  was  no  time 
for  reflection  or  irresolution ;  the  aspect  of  things  being  so  seri 
ous  as  might  well  have  thrown  the  most  decided  man  into  un 
certainty  and  doubt.  The  current  sucked  the  vessel  in,  like  the 
Maelstrom,  and  we  were  whirling  ahead  at  a  rate  that  would 
have  split  the  ship  from  her  keel  to  her  top-timbers  had  we  come, 
upon  a  sunken  rock.  The  chances  were  about  even ;  for  I  re 
garded  the  pilotage  as  a  very  random  sort  of  an  affair.  We 
glanced  on  in  breathless  expectation,  therefore,  not  knowing 
but  each  instant  would  involve  us  in  ruin. 

This  jeopardy  endured  about  five  minutes.  At  the  end  of 
that  brief  space,  the  ship  had  run  the  gauntlet  for  the  distance 
of  a  mile,  driven  onward  by  the  current  rather  than  by  the  wind. 
So  tremendous  was  our  velocity  in  the  narrowest  part,  that  I 
actually  caught  myself  grasping  the  rail  of  the  ship,  as  we  glanced 
past  the  rocks,  as  if  to  keep  myself  from  a  fall.  The  French 
gave  a  loud  and  general  shout  just  as  the  boat  issued  out  of  this 
race-way  into  a  wide  capacious  bay,  within  the  group  of  islands, 
which  had  the  appearance  of  forming  a  roadstead  of  some  note. 
There  was  a  battery  on  the  end  of  the  last  island,  a  light-house, 
and  a  cluster  of  fishermen's  huts ;  all  indicating  that  the  place 
was  one  of  considerable  resort. 

Monsieur  Le  Gros  was  waiting  for  us  about  two  cables'  lengths 
from  the  place  where  we  issued  into  the  bay,  having  consider 
ately  chosen  an  anchorage  for  us,  at  a  point  commanded  by  the 
four  six-and-thirty  pounders  of  the  battery.  The  distance  en 
abled  me  to  look  about.  Within  the  range  of  islands  was  a  sort 
of  sound,  quite  a  league  in  width,  and  on  this  sound  the  main 
coast  presented  several  bays  in  which  coasters  were  at  anchor. 
Most  of  the  prominent  points  had  small  batteries,  of  no  great 
force  as  against  a  fleet,  or  even  against  a  single  heavy  ship,  but 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  257 

•which  were  sufficiently  formidable  to  keep  a  sloop-of-war  or  a 
frigate  at  a  respectable  distance.  As  all  the  guns  were  heavy, 
a  vessel  passing  through  the  middle  of  this  sound  would  hardly 
be  safe,  more  especially  did  the  gunners  do  their  duty.  By 
anchoring  at  the  spot  where  the  boat  waited  for  us,  we  at  once 
gave  up  the  ship  to  the  privateersmen,  the  battery  first  men 
tioned  commanding  that  point  completely.  As  good  luck  would 
have  it,  however,  an  expedient  offered,  in  the  direction  of  the 
wind  and  tide,  which  were  opposed  to  each  other,  and  I  availed 
myself  of  the  circumstance  aa  promptly  as  possible. 

Do  our  best,  the  Dawn  could  not  fetch  the  spot  where  the 
boat  had  dropped  her  kedge.  We  passed  within  hail  of  it,  not 
withstanding,  and  loud  were  the  calls  to  us  to  shorten  sail  and 
anchor,  as  AVC  came  within  hearing.  Affecting  to  be  anxious  to 
get  up  to  the  precise  point  where  the  boat  lay,  I  mystified  Mon 
sieur  Le  Gros  in  my  answers,  telling  him  I  would  stand  on  a 
short  distance,  or  until  I  could  fetch  him,  when  I  would  tack. 
As  this  was  intelligible  it  satisfied  my  captors,  though  a  hundred 
"  rfimportes"  were  yelled  after  us,  and  "rfimporte"  it  was  in 
fact,  one  spot  being  just  as  good  to  anchor  in  as  another,  for  half 
a  league  all  round  us. 

The  Dawn  did  her  duty  that  day,  and  there  was  occasion  for 
it,  the  frigate  still  continuing  the  chase.  The  circuit  she  had  to 
make,  and  the  berth  she  thought  it  prudent  to  give  the  first 
battery,  enabled  us  to  gain  on  her  materially.  When  we  passed 
the  boat,  the  Englishman's  upper  sails  were  visible  on  the  out 
side  of  the  island,  flying  along  the  rocks  at  a  rate  that  spoke 
well  of  his  heels.  He  rounded  the  point  when  we  were  mid- 
sound,  but  here  the  battery  served  us  a  good  turn,  for,  instead 
of  hauling  up  close  by  the  wind,  the  English  were  obliged  to 
run  off  with  the  wind  free,  to  keep  out  of  harm's  way.  Their 
presence,  notwithstanding,  was  probably  of  great  service  to  the 
Dawn,  for  there  had  been  a  communication  between  Monsieur 
Le  Gros  and  the  batteries,  by  means  of  a  small  boat  sent  from 
the  latter,  and  we  should  have  been  very  likely  to  have  a  mes 
senger,  in  the  shape  of  a  shot,  sent  after  us,  when  it  was  seen 


258  MILES      WALLINOFORD. 

\ve  continued  to  stand  across  for  the  main  instead  of  tacking  for 
the  designated  anchorage,  had  not  the  men  in  the  battery  had 
the  higher  game  of  the  frigate  in  view.  As  soon  as  John  Bull 
got  within  range,  the  gunners  began  to  play  on  him,  but  it  was 
at  a  distance  that  rendered  their  fire  next  to  useless. 

Any  one  in  the  least  acquainted  with  the  movements  of  ships, 
will  understand  the  advantage  we  now  possessed.  The  Dawn 
was  beating  through  a  good  wide  passage,  with  a  young  flood 
breasting  her  to  windward,  and  a  steady  six-knot  breeze  blowing. 
The  passage  between  these  islands  and  the  main  was  about  four 
leagues  long,  while  that  which  the  fishermen  had  wished  us  first 
to  enter  was  near  the  middle  of  the  group.  We  were  already  a 
mile  from  the  boat,  and  considerably  to  windward  of  her,  the 
tide  having  done  that  much  for  us,  when  Monsieur  Le  Gros  saw 
fit  to  lift  his  kedge  and  commence  a  new  pursuit.  He  had  the 
sagacity  to  see  that  we  should  soon  be  obliged  to  tack,  on  ac 
count  of  the  main  coast,  and  to  stand  over  toward  the  island 
again ;  accordingly,  instead  of  following  in  our  wake,  he  profited 
by  the  set  of  the  current,  and  pulled  directly  to  windward,  with 
a  view  to  cut  us  off.  All  this  we  very  plainly  saw,  but  we  cared 
very  little  for  Monsieur  Le  Gros  and  his  boat.  The  ship  could 
out-sail  the  last  very  easily,  in  such  a  breeze,  and  it  was  always 
in  our  power  to  tack  in  mid-channel,  instead  of  crossing  her, 
or  coming  near  her  at  all.  The  frigate  gave  me  much  more 
trouble. 

The  Englishman,  as  I  afterward  learned,  was  a  French-built 
ship,  called  the  Fortunee,  or  as  Jack  termed  her,  now  she  had 
got  to  be  designated  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  dialect,  the  Fortunee, 
which  was  liberally  rendered  into  the  vernacular,  as  the  "  Happy 
Go-Lucky."  She  was  an  old  ship,  but  an  exceedingly  fast  one, 
and  her  commander  had  rendered  himself  famous  by  the  manner 
in  which  he  ventured  about  on  the  French  coast.  This  was  the 
third  time  he  had  gone  through  this  very  sound  in  spite  of  the 
batteries,  and  having  some  experience  in  the  windings  and  turn 
ings,  he  was  now  much  better  able  to  get  along  scatheless  than 
on  the  two  former  occasions.  As  soon  as  he  thought  himself 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  259 

at  a  safe  distance  from  the  six-and-thirties,  he  hauled  up,  and 
made  live  short  stretches  near  the  main,  where  he  had  much 
the  best  of  the  tide  and  the  whole  strength  of  the  breeze,  and 
where  there  was.  nothing  to  molest  him,  the  usual  roadstead 
being  under  the  island  of  course. 

The  first  hour  sufficed,  to  let  me  understand  there  was  no 
chance  of  escaping  the  frigate ;  if  we  continued  to  beat  up 
through  the  passage,  we  might  reach  its  western  end  a  little  in 
advance  of  her,  it  is  true,  but  no  hope  at  all  of  getting  away 
would  remain  when  we  again  reached  the  open  ocean,  and  she 
in-shore  of  us.  In  this  dilemma,  Marble  made  one  of  his  happy 
suggestions,  my  merit  amounting  to  no  more  than  seizing  the 
right  moment,  and  carrying  out  his  idea  with  promptitude.  The 
passage  first  named  lay  in  a  line  with  us,  and  we  had  every  rea 
son  to  believe  the  ship  could  go  through  it.  When  we  were  in 
vited  to  enter,  the  tide  was  not  as  high  by  six  feet,  as  it  had  now 
risen  to  be,  and  my  mate  suggested  the  expedient  of  trying  it,  in 
going  out. 

"  The  Englishman  will  never  dare  follow,  on  account  of  the 
battery  which  lies  on  the  side  of  it,"  he  added,  "  whereas  the 
French  will  not  fire  at  ITS,  believing  us  to  be  escaping  from  a 
common  enemy." 

The  whole  force  of  what  had  been  said  flashed  upon  me  in  an 
instant.  I  set  the  tricolor  over  a  British  ensign,  to  cause  the 
people  of  this  second  battery  to  think  us  an  English  prize,  and 
stood  straight  for  the  pass,  just  without  which  lay  a  small  brig 
at  anchor.  In  order  to  make  the  deception  more  complete,  we 
hauled  up  our  courses,  and  let  run  the  topgallant  halyards,  as  if 
ready  to  bring  up.  Seeing  this,  Monsieur  Le  Gros  fancied  we 
were  about  to  anchor  under  the  battery,  and  that  we  had  hoisted 
our  flags  to  taunt  the  English,  for  caps  and  hats  were  waved  in 
exultation  in  the  boat,  then  distant  from  us  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 
We  passed  close  to  the  brig,  which  greeted  us  with  acclamations 
and  "vives  la  France"  as  we  swept  by  her.  My  eye  was  on  the 
battery,  the  whole  time.  It  was  built  to  command  the  road 
stead,  and  without  any  reference  to  the  pass,  which  no  enemy 


260  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

would  be  apt  to  attempt.  It  is  true,  two  heavy  guns  bore  on 
this  entrance,  but  they  were  in  a  detached  work,  that  was  never 
manned  except  in  emergencies. 

I  drew  a  long  breath,  and  felt  a  mountain  removed  from  my 
very  soul,  as  the  ship  passed  out  of  the  range  of  the  last  gun  in 
the  little  semicircle.  The  soldiers  were  making  gestures  to  us 
to  indicate  we  were  getting  too  far  west  for  a  good  berth,  but 
we  heeded  them  not.  Instead  of  shortening  sail,  the  fore  and 
main-tacks  were  boarded,  and  the  topgallant-sails  set.  This  re 
vealed  oui  intention,  and  the  clamor  on  the  shore  even  reached 
the  ship.  Preparations  were  making  to  get  a  piece  of  light  artil 
lery  to  bear  on  us,  and  some  twenty  gunners  began  to  scamper 
toward  the  detached  battery.  The  whole  thing  was  now  reduced 
to  a  sheer  race.  We  passed  the  last  battery  ten  minutes  before 
the  French  could  reach  it,  the  latter  having  to  go  round  a  con 
siderable  bay ;  and  six  minutes  later  we  went  out  to  sea,  with 
the  American  ensign,  and  jacks,  and  pennants  flying  at  each 
mast-head,  and  wherever  else  such  an  emblem  of  triumph  could 
be  shown ! 


MILKS     WALLINGFORD.  201 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

"  O,  I  am  out  of  breath  in  this  fond  chase ! 
The  more  my  prayer,  the  lesser  is  my  grace." 

SIIAKSPEARE. 

MARBLE  and  I  looked  each  other  in  the  face,  and  then  burst 
into  a  laugh,  as  the  French  fired  a  single  shot  from  the  two-gun 
battery,  Avhich  flew  beyond  us,  but  which  could  scarcely  hit  us 
on  account  of  some  intervening  rocks.  I  altered  the  course  of 
the  ship  in  order  to  get  a  little  more  out  of  the  range;  after 
this,  we  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  French.  The  boat  did  not 
attempt  to  follow  us,  and  thus  ended  our  communication  with 
le  Polisson  and  her  people  at  that  time.  As  for  la  Fortunee,  it 
Avould  require  at  least  four  hours  for  her  to  beat  round  the  end 
of  the  cluster  of  islands,  and  seeing  the  hopelessness  of  doing 
this  in  time  to  overtake  such  a  ship  as  the  Dawn,  her  com 
mander  made  a  dash  in  at  the  unfortunate  brig,  which  he  act 
ually  succeeded  in  cutting  from  the  roadstead,  in  spite  of  all  tho 
defences  of  the  place.  The  last  I  heard  of  these  gentlemen,  was 
the  reports  of  the  guns  that  were  exchanged  between  the  battery 
and  the  frigate,  while  the  last  I  saw  of  them,  was  the  smoke  that 
floated  over  the  spot,  long  after  the  islands  had  sunk  beneath  the 
horizon.  The  Dawn  stood  directly  out  to  sea,  with  the  wind  still 
at  the  northward,  though  it  had  drawn  more  through  the  pass 
in-shore. 

"  Well,  Miles,"  cried  Marble,  as  he  and  I  sat  eating  our  din 
ner  on  deck,  where  Neb  had  been  ordered  to  serve  it,  "you 
know  what  I've  always  said  of  your  luck.  It's  proof  agin  every 
thing  but  Providence  !  Die  you  must  and  will,  some  of  these 
times  ;  but  not  until  you've  done  something  remarkable.  Sail 


2C2  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

with  you,  my  boy  !  I  consider  your  company  a  standing  policy 
of  insurance,  and  have  no  sort  of  consarn  about  fortin,  while 
I'm  under  your  orders.  With  any  other  man,  I  should  bo 
nothing  but  a  bloody  hermit,  instead  of  the  dutiful  son  and  af 
fectionate  uncle  I  am.  But,  what  do  you  mean  to  perform 
next  ?" 

"  I  have  been  thinking,  Moses,  our  best  step  will  be  to  shape 
our  course  for  Hamburg,  whither  we  are  bound.  This  northerly 
wind  can't  last  long  at  this  season,  and  another  south-wester 

O  ' 

would  just  serve  our  turn.  In  ten  days,  or  a  fortnight,  we  might 
make  our  haven." 

"  And  then  those  French  chaps  that  are  attacking  yonder  kid 
of  pork,  as  if  it  were  a  wild  beast ;  the  fellows  never  saw  good 
solid  food  before !" 

"  Feed  them  well — treat  them  well — and  make  them  work. 
They  would  never  think  of  troubling  us  ;  nor  do  I  suppose  they 
know  any  thing  of  navigation.  I  see  they  smoke  and  chew ; 
we  will  give  'em  as  much  tobacco  as  their  hearts  can  wish,  or 
their  mouths  hold  ;  and  this  will  keep  them  in  good-humor." 

"  And  John  Bull  ?" 

"  Why,  John  is  another  sort  of  a  person  to  deal  with,  cer 
tainly.  I  am  not  sure  that  a  third  English  cruiser  would  molest 
us.  We  can  keep  our  own  secret  concerning  Sennit  and  his 
party ;  and  we  may  not  meet  with  another,  after  all.  My  plan 
is  to  run  close  in  with  the  English  coast,  and  show  our  colors 
boldly ;  now,  nine  in  ten  of  the  British  men-of-war  will  let  us 
pass  unquestioned,  believing  we .  are  bound  to  London,  unless 
they  happen  to  have  one  of  those  pressing  gentry,  like  Sennit, 
on  board.  I  have  often  been  told  that  ships  which  pass  close 
in  with  the  English  coast,  generally  pass  unquestioned ;  by  the 
large  craft,  uniformly ;  though  they  may  have  something  to  ap 
prehend  from-  the  brigs  and  cutters.  Your  small  fry  always  givo 
the  most  trouble,  Moses." 

"We  have  not  found  -it  so  this  v'y'ge,  Miles.  However, 
you're  not  only  captain,  but  you're  owner ;  and  I  leave  you  to 
paddle  your  own  canoe.  We  must  go  somewhere  ;  and  I  will 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  263 

not  say  your  plan  is  not  as  good  as  any  I  can  start,  Avith  thirty 
years  more  of  experience." 

We  talked  the  matter  over,  canvassing  it  in  all  its  bearings, 
until  it  was  settled  to  adopt  it. 

The  ship  was  steered  large,  until  the  French  qoast  was  en 
tirely  sunk ;  and  then  we  trimmed  her  by  the  wind,  heading  up 
as  near  to  our  course  as  the  breeze  would  permit.  Nothing  oc 
curred  in  the  course  of  the  remainder  of  the  day  to  produce 
either  trouble  or  uneasiness,  though  my  three  Frenchmen  came 
to  certain  explanations  with  me,  that  at  first  menaced  a  little 
difficulty.  They  refused  to  work ;  and  I  Avas  compelled  to  tell 
them  I  should  put  them  on  board  the  first  English  vessel-of- 
war  we  met.  This  had  the  desired  effect ;  and,  after  an  amica 
ble  discussion,  I  agreed  to  pay  them  high  wages  on  our  arrival 
in  a  friendly  port :  and  they  agreed  to  serve  me  as  well  as  they 
knew  how.  Seven  men  were  rather  less  than  half  a  crew  for  a 
vessel  of  the  Dawn's  size,  but  it  was  possible  to  get  along  with 
that  number.  The  steering  was  the  hardest  part  of  the  duty — 
neither  of  the  Frenchmen  being  able  to  take  his  trick  at  the 
helm.  We  got  along  with  the  necessary  work,  however ;  and 
so  glad  were  we  all  to  be  rid  of  both  English  and  French,  that 
I  hazard  little  in  saying,  we  would  have  endured  twice  as  much, 
cheerfully,  could  we  be  certain  of  meeting  no  more  of  their 
cruisers.  Providence  had  ordered  matters  very  differently. 

That  night  the  wind  shifted  again  to  the  southward  and 
westward.  We  braced  in  the  yards,  and  brought  the  ship  to 
her  course ;  but  I  thought  it  best  not  to  carry  sail  hard  in  the 
dark.  Accordingly,  I  left  orders  to  be  called  at  sunrise,  Marble 
having  the  Avatch  at  that  hour.  When  I  came  on  deck,  in  con 
sequence  of  this  summons,  I  found  my  mate  examining  the  hor 
izon  with  some  earnestness,  as  if  he  were  looking  for  strangers. 

"  We  are  a  merry  party  this  morning,  Captain  W^allingford," 
Marble  cried  out,  as  soon  as  he  saw  me.  "  I  have  found  no  less 
than  six  sail  in  sight,  since  the  day  da\vncd." 

"  I  hope  that  neither  is  a  lugger.  I  feel  more  afraid  of  this 
Polisson,  just  noAV,  than  of  all  the  names  in  Christendom.  That 


264  MILES      WALLINGFOKD. 

fellow  must  be  cruising  in  the  chops  of  the  Channel,  and  we  are 
working  our  way  well  in  toward  that  part  of  the  world." 

"  I  hope  so  too,  sir ;  but  this  chap  out  here  at  north-west  has 
a  suspicious,  lugger-like  look.  It  may  be  that  I  see  only  the 
heads  of  his  topsails,  but  they  are  amazingly  like  luggs !" 

I  now  took  a  survey  of  the  ocean  for  myself.  The  vessel 
Marble  distrusted,  I  unhesitatingly  pronounced  to  be  a  lugger : 
quite  as  likely  the  Polisson  as  any  other  craft.  The  other  four 
vessels  were  all  ships,  the  five  forming  a  complete  circle,  of 
which  the  Dawn  was  in  the  centre.  The  lugger,  however,  was 
some  miles  the  nearest  to  us,  while  as  to  the  strangers,  if  they 
saw  each  other  across  the  diameter  of  the  circle  at  all,  it  was 
as  much  as  was  possible.  Under  the  circumstances,  it  struck  me 
our  wisest  way  was  to  keep  steadily  on  our  course,  like  honest 
people.  Marble  was  of  the  same  opinion,  and  to  say  the  truth, 
there  was  little  choice  in  the  matter,  the  ship  being  so  complete 
ly  surrounded.  The  worst  feature  of  the  case  was  our  position, 
which  would  be  certain  to  draw  all  the  cruisers  to  the  centre, 
and  consequently  to  ourselves. 

Two  hours  produced  a  material  change.  All  five  of  the 
strangers  had  closed  in  upon  us,  and  we  were  now  able  to  form 
tolerably  accurate  notions  of  their  characters.  The  two  astern, 
one  on  our  larboard,  and  one  on  our  starboard  quarter,  were 
clearly  heavy  vessels  and  consorts,  though  of  what  nation  it 
was  not  yet  so  easy  to  decide.  That  they  were  consorts  was 
apparent  by  their  signalling  one  another,  and  by  the  manner  in 
which  they  were  closing ;  as  they  carried  studding-sails,  alow 
and  aloft,  they  were  coming  up  with  us  fast,  and  in  all  probabil 
ity  would  be  alongside  in  two  or  three  hours  more. 

Two  of  the  ships  ahead  struck  me  as  frigates,  having  their 
broadsides  exposed  to  us ;  we  had  raised  one  line  of  ports,  but 
it  was  possible  they  might  turn  out  to  be  two-deckers  ;  ships- 
of-war  they  were,  beyond  all  question,  and  I  fancied  them  Eng 
lish  from  the  squareness  of  their  upper  sails.  They,  too,  were 
consorts,  making  signals  to  each  other,  and  closing  fast  on  op 
posite  tacks.  The  lugger  was  no  longer  equivocal ;  it  was  the 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  K  D  .  265 

Polisson,  and  she  was  standing  directly  for  us,  though  it  -was 
ticklish  business,  since  the  remaining  ship,  a  corvette,  as  I  fan 
cied,  was  already  in  her  wake,  carrying  sail  hard,  going  like  a 
witch,  and  only  about  two  leagues  astern. 

Monsieur  Gallois  had  so  much  confidence  in  his  heels,  that 
he  stood  on,  regardless  of  his  pursuer.  I  thought  it  best  to 
put  a  bold  face  on  the  matter,  knowing  that  sufficient  time 
might  be  wasted  to  enable  the  sloop-of-war  to  get  near  enough 
to  prevent  the  privateer  from  again  manning  us.  My  principal 
apprehension  was,  that  he  might  carry  us  all  off,  in  revenge  for 
what  had  happened,  and  set  fire  to  the  ship.  Against  either 
of  these  steps,  however,  I  should  offer  all  the  resistance  in  my 
power. 

It  was  jnst  ten  o'clock  when  the  Polisson  ranged  up  abeam 
of  us  the  second  time,  and  we  hove-to.  It  was  evident  the 
French  recognized  us,  and  the  clamor  that  succeeded  must  have 
resembled  that  of  Babel,  when  the  people  began  first  to  con 
verse  without  making  themselves  understood.  Knowing  we  had 

O  O 

no  small  boat,  Monsieur  Gallois  lost  no  time,  but  lowering  a 
yawl  of  his  own,  he  came  alongside  of  us  in  person.  As  I  had 
commanded  the  three  Frenchmen  to  remain  below,  he  found  no 
one  on  deck  but  Marble,  Diogenes,  Neb  and  myself. 

"  Parbleu,  Monsieur  Vallingfort !"  exclaimed  the  privateers- 
man,  saluting  me  very  civilly,  notwithstanding  appearances — 
"  Jest  Men  extraordinaire  !  Vat  you  do  vid  me  men  ? — eh  !  Put 
'em  in  ze  zea,  commc  avec  le  Anglais  ?" 

I  was  spared  the  necessity  of  any  explanation,  by  the  sudden 
appearance  of  my  own  three  prisoners,  who  disregarded  my  or 
ders,  and  came  rushing  up  to  their  proper  commander,  open- 
mouthed  and  filled  with  zeal  to  relate  all  that  had  passed.  The 
whole  three  broke  out  at  once,  and  a  scene  that  was  sufficiently 
ludicrous  followed.  It  was  a  continued  volley  of  words,  excla 
mations,  oaths,  and  compliments  to  the  American  character,  so 
blended,  as  to  render  it  out  of  the  question  that  Monsieur 
Gallois  could  understand  them.  The  latter  found  himself 
obliged  to  appeal  to  me.  I  gave  a  very  frank  account  of  tho 
12 


206  MILES      AVALLINGFORD. 

whole  affair,  in  English ;  a  language  that  my  captor  understood 
much  better  than  he  spoke. 

Monsieur  Gallois  had  the  rapacity  of  a  highwayman,  but  it  was 
singularly  blended  Avith  French  politeness.  He  had  not  always 
been  a  privateersman — a  calling  that  implies  an  undue  love  of 
gold ;  and  he  Avas  quite  capable  of  distinguishing  betAveen  right 
and  wrong  in  matters  in  which  his  OAvn  pocket  had  no  direct 
concern.  As  soon  as  he  comprehended  the  affair,  he  began  to 
laugh,  and  to  cry  "  Bon !"  I  saw  he  Avas  in  a  good  humor,  and 
not  likely  to  resent  Avhat  had  happened ;  and  I  finished  my 
history  in  somewhat  sarcastic  language,  portraying  Monsieur 
Le  Gros's  complaisance  in  quitting  the  ship  and  in  piloting 
her  about  the  bay,  a  little  dryly,  perhaps.  There  Avere  sundry 
"  sacr-r-r-es"  and  "  betes"  uttered  the  while ;  but  all  came  out 
freely  and  AA'ithout  anger,  as  if  Monsieur  Gallois  thought  a  good 
joke  the  next  thing  to  a  good  prize. 

"  Tenez,  mon  ami  /"  he  cried,  squeezing  my  hand,  as  he 
looked  round  at  the  corvette,  noAv  less  than  a  league  distant. 

'  O 

"  You  are  vat  you  Anglais  call  '  good  fellow.'  J 'admire  votre 
esprit !  You  have  escape  admirablcment,  and  I  shall  have  vifs 
regrets  not  to  'ave  opportunite  to  cultiver  votre  connaissance _ 
JIais,  I  most  laafs — mille  pardons — you  have  non  too  much 
peep's,  mais  c'est  impossible  d'abandonner  mes  compatriots.  Al 
lans,  mes  enfants  ;  au  cdnot." 

This  was  the  signal  for  the  French  to  quit  us ;  the  three  men 
I  had  shipped  taking  their  departure  Avithout  ceremony.  Mon 
sieur  Gallois  Avas  the  last  in  the  boat,  of  course  ;  and  he  found 
time  to  squeeze  my  hand  once  more,  and  to  renew  his  "  vifs 
regrets"  at  not  having  more  leisure  to  cultivate  my  acquaintance. 
The  corvette  was  already  so  near,  as  to  render  it  necessary  for 
the  Polisson  to  be  in  motion ;  another  time,  perhaps,  AVC  might 
be  more  fortunate. 

In  this  manner  did  I  part  from  a  man  who  had  not  scrupled 
to  seize  me  in  distress,  as  he  Avould  a  Avaif  on  a  beach.  By 
manning  me,  the  prize  CI-CAV  Avould  have  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy ;  and  making  a  merit  of  necessity,  Monsieur  Gal- 


MILES      WALLING  FORD.  267 

lois  was  disposed  to  be  civil  to  those  whom  he  could  not  rob. 
Odd  as  it  may  seem,  I  felt  the  influence  of  this  manner  to  a  de 
gree  that  almost  reconciled  me  to  the  act  before  committed, 
although  the  last  was  just  as  profligate  and  illegal  as  any  that 
could  well  be  committed.  Of  so  much  more  importance,  with 
the  majority  of  men,  is  manner  than  matter  ;  a  very  limited  few 
alone  knowing  how  to  give  to  the  last  its  just  ascendency. 

The  Polisson  was  rot  long  in  gathering  way,  after-  her  boat 
was  hoisted  in.  She  passed,  on  the  crest  of  a  wave,  so  near, 
that  it  was  easy  to  distinguish  the  expressions  of  her  people's 
faces,  few  of  which  discovered  the  equanimity  of  that  of  their 
commander's  ;  and  to  hear  the  incessant  gabbling  that  was  kept 
up  on  board  her  day  and  night,  from  "  morn  till  dewy  eve."  M. 
Gallois  bowed  complaisantly,  and  he  smiled  as  amiably  as  if 
he  never  had  put  a  hand  in  another  man's  pocket ;  but  his  glass 
Avas  immediately  turned  toward  the  corvette,  which  now  began 
to  give  him  some  little  uneasiness.  Manning  us,  indeed,  with 
that  fellow  surging  ahead  at  the  rate  he  was,  would  have  been 
quite  out  of  the  question. 

Being  reduced  to  our  old  number  of  four,  I  saw  no  use  in 
working  ourselves  to  death,  by  filling  the  topsail,  with  the  cer 
tainty  the  sloop-of-war  would  make  us  round-to  again.  The 
Dawn,  therefore,  remained  stationary,  waiting  the  issue  with 
philosophical  patience. 

"  There  is  no  use,  Moses,  in  endeavoring  to  escape,"  I  re 
marked  ;  "  we  are  not  strong-handed  enough  to  get  sail  on  the 
ship  before  the  fellow  will  be  up  Avith  us." 

"  Ay,  and  there  goes  his  bunting,  and  a  gun,"  answered  tho 
mate.  "  The  Avhite  English  ensign,  a  sign  the  chap  is  under 
some  admiral,  or  vice,  or  rear  of  the  Avhite,  while,  if  I  mistake 
not,  the  two  frigates  shoAV  blue  flags — if  so,  'tis  a  sign  they're 
not  consorts." 

The  glass  confirmed  this,  and  we  were  left  to  suppose  that  all 
three  Englishmen  did  not  belong  to  the  same  squadron.  At 
this  moment,  the  state  of  the  game  was  as  folloAvs  : — The  Dawn 
was  lying-to,  with  her  fore-course  up,  mainsail  furled,  main-top- 


268  MILES      W  A  L  LI  K G  F O  U D . 

sail  aback,  and  topgallant-yards  on  the  caps,  jib  and  spanker 
both  set.  The  Polisson  was  flying  away  on  the  crests  of  the 
seas,  close-hauled,  evidently  disposed  to  make  a  lee  behind  the 
two  frigates  to  windward,  which  we  took  for,  and  which  it  is 
probable  she  knew  to  be  French.  The  ships  to  leeward  were 
passing  each  other  within  hail ;  the  one  to  the  eastward  tacking 
immediately  after,  and  coming  up  in  her  consort's  wake ;  both 
vessels  carrying  every  thing  that  would  draw.  The  ships  to  the 
southward,  or  the  supposed  Frenchmen,  might  then  have  been 
two  leagues  from  us,  while  those  to  leeward  were  three.  As  for 
the  corvette,  her  course  seemed  to  lie  directly  between  our 
masts.  On  she  came  with  every  thing  beautifully  trimmed,  the 
water  spouting  from  her  hawse-holes,  as  she  rose  from  a  plunge, 
and  foaming  under  her  bows,  as  if  made  of  a  cloud.  Her  dis 
tance  from  us  was  less  than  a  mile. 

It  was  now  that  the  corvette  made  signals  to  the  ships  to 
windward.  They  were  answered,  but  in  a  way  to  show  the 
parties  did  not  understand  each  other.  She  then  tried  her  hand 
with  the  vessels  to  leeward,  and,  notwithstanding  the  distance, 
she  succeeded  better.  I  could  see  these  two  frigates,  or  rather 
the  one  that  led,  sending  questions  and  answers  to  the  corvette, 
although  my  best  glass  would  hardly  enable  me  to  distinguish 
their  ensigns.  I  presume  that  the  corvette  asked  the  names  of 
the  English  vessels,  communicated  her  own,  and  let  the  fact  be 
known  that  the  ships  to  windward  were  enemies. 

A  few  minutes  later  our  affairs,  as  they  were  connected  with 
the  sloop-of-war,  came  to  a  crisis.  This  ship  now  came  on 
close  under  our  lee,  losing  a  little  of  her  way  in  passing,  an  ex 
pedient  probably  thought  of  to  give  her  a  little  more  time  to 
put  her  questions,  and  to  receive  the  desired  answers.  I  ob 
served,  also,  that  she  let  go  all  her  bowlines,  Avhich  seemed  much 
to  deaden  her  way,  of  which  there  still  remained  sufficient,  not 
withstanding,  to  carry  her  well  clear  of  us.  The  following  dia 
logue  then  passed,  the  Englishman  asking  the  questions,  of 
course,  that  being  a  privilege  expressly  appropriated  to  the 
public  vessel  on  occasions  of  this  sort; 


MILKS     WALLINGFORD.  209 

"  What  ship's  that  I—and  whither  bound  ?" 
•'Dawn,  of  New  York,   Miles  Wallingford,  from  home  to 
Hamburg." 

•'  Did  not  the  lugger  board  you  ?" 
"  Ay,  ay — for  the  second  time  in  three  days." 
"  What  is  she  called  ? — and  what  is  her  force  ?" 
"  Le  Polisson,  of  Brest — sixteen  light  guns,  and  about  a  hun 
dred  men." 

"  Do  you  know  any  thing  of  the  ships  to  windward  ?" 
"  Nothing  at  all ;  but  I  suppose  them  to  be  French." 
"  Pray,  sir,  why  do  you  sup — um — um — ook — ook" — 
The  distance  prevented  my  hearing  more.     Away  went  the 
sloop,  steadying  her  bowlines ;    the  call  piping  belay,  as  each 
sail  was  trimmed  to  the  officer  of  the  deck's  fancy.     In  a  few 
more  minutes,  we  could  not  distinguish  even  the  shrill  notes  of 
that  instrument.     The  corvette  continued  on  in  chase  of  the 
lugger,  regardless  of  the  four  other  vessels,  though  the  two  to 
Avindward  now  showed  the  tricolor,  and  fired  guns  of  defiance. 

Monsieur  Gallois  soon  after  tacked,  evidently  disposed  to 
stand  for  the  frigates  of  his  country ;  when  the  sloop-of-war 
immediately  Avent  round,  also,  heading  up  toward  these  very 
vessels,  determined  to  cut  off  the  lugger,  even  if  it  were  to  be 
done  by  venturing  within  range  of  the  shot  of  her  protectors. 
It  was  a  bold  manoeuvre,  and  deserved  success,  if  it  were  only 
for  its  spirit  and  daring. 

I  thought,  however,  that  the  frigates  of  the  tricolor  paid  very 
little  attention  to  the  lugger.  By  altering  their  course  a  trifle, 
it  would  have  been  in  their  power  to  cover  her  completely  from 
the  attempts  of  the  corvette ;  but,  instead  of  doing  this,  they 
rather  deviated  a  little  the  other  way,  as  if  desirous  of  approach 
ing  the  two  ships  to  leeward,  on  the  side  that  would  prevent 
their  being  cut  off  from  the  land.  As  neither  party  seemed  dis 
posed  to  take  any  notice  of  us,  we  filled  our  topsail  and  stood 
out  of  the  circle  under  easy  canvas,  believing  it  bad  policy  to 
have  an  appearance  of  haste.  Haste,  however,  was  a  thing  out 
of  our  power,  it  requiring  time  for  four  men  to  make  sail. 


270  MILES      \V  A  L  L  I  N  O  F  O  U  D  . 

About  eleven,  or  half  past  eleven,  tlie  four  frigates  were  dis 
tant  from  each  other  rather  more  than  a  league,  the  Dawn  being 
just  then  half  a  league  from  the  two  Frenchmen  and  rather  more 
distant  from  the  English.  Had  an  action  then  commenced,  we 
might  have  been  a  mile  out  of  the  line  of  fire.  Curious  to  Icnow 
the  result,  I  stood  on  a  short  distance  further,  and  backed  my  top 
sail,  to  await  the  issue.  I  was  influenced  to  take  this  course  from 
an  expectation  that  either  party,  after  a  conflict  with  an  equal, 
would  be  less  disposed  to  molest  a  neutral,  and  that  I  might 
possibly  obtain  assistance  from  the  conqueror — few  cruisers  be 
ing  found  at  that  day  without  having  foreigners  on  board,  that 
they  would  be  willing  tc  give  to  a  vessel  in  distress.  As  for  the 
account  I  meant  to  give  to  the  party  to  whom  I  intended  to 
apply,  it  Avould  depend  on  circumstances.  If  the  French  re 
mained  on  the  spot,  I  could  relate  the  affair  with  the  prize  crew 
of  the  Speedy ;  if  the  English,  that  of  the  Polisson.  In  neither 
case  would  an  untruth  be  told,  though  certain  collateral  facts 
might  be,  and  probably  would  have  been,  suppressed. 

The  Frenchmen  began  to  haul  down  their  light  sails,  just  as 
we  hove-to.  This  was  done  in  a  lubberly  and  irregular  manner, 
as  if  little  concert  or  order  prevailed  on  board  them.  Marble 
growled  out  his  remarks,  deeming  the  whole  proceeding  a  bad 
omen  for  the  tricolor.  It  is  certain  that  the  French  marine,  in 
1803,  was  not  a  service  to  boast  of.  The  English  used  to  say 
that  they  seldom  got  a  French  ship  without  working  for  her ; 
and  this  was  probably  true,  as  the  nation  is  warlike,  and  little 
disposed  to  submit  without  an  effort.  Still,  France,  at  that  day, 
could  hardly  be  said  to  be  maritime ;  and  the  revolutions  and 
changes  she  had  undergone  were  not  likely  to  favor  the  crea 
tion  of  a  good  corps  of  naval  officers.  Brave  men  were  far 
more  plenty  than  skilful  seamen ;  and  then  came  the  gabbling 
propensity,  one  of  the  worst  of  all  human  failings,  to  assist  in 
producing  a  disorderly  ship. 

It  was  a  pretty  sight  to  see  those  four  ships  strip  for  the 
fight ;  although  the  French  canvas  did  not  .come  down  exactly 
according  to  rule.  The  English,  however,  were  in  no  hurry ; 


MILES      W  A  L  L  IN  GF  O  R.D.  271 

the  two  tricolor  men  being  under  their  three  topsails,  spankers, 
and  jibs,  with  the  topgallant-sails  clewed  up,  before  John  Bull 
reduced  even  a  royal.  The  latter,  it  will  be  remembered,  were 
to  leeward,  and  had  to  close  with  their  adversaries.  In  doing 

l  O 

this,  they  made  one  stretch  so  far  in  our  direction,  in  the  hope 
of  tacking  in  their  enemies'  wakes,  that  I  saw  they  would  prob 
ably  speak  us.  I  confess  this  was  more  than  I  had  bargained 
for ;  but  it  was  now  too  late  to  run,  which  would  probably  have 
led  to  our  seizure.  I  determined,  therefore,  to  await  the  result 
with  dignity. 

Just  as  the  English  ships  were  coming  within  musket-shot  of 
the  Dawn,  the  French — then  distant  about  a  mile  and  a  half  to 
the  eastward,  and  half  a  mile  south  of  us — wore  ship,  and  came 
round  with  their  heads  to  the  westward — or,  in  our  direction. 
As  this  was  coming  nearer,  instead  of  moving  from  them,  the 
Englishmen  began  to  start  their  tacks  and  sheets,  in  order  to  be 
ready.  Their  six  royals  were  all  flying  at  the  same  instant,  as 
were  their  flying-jibs ;  at  the  next,  the  canvas  was  rolled  up,  and 
out  of  sight.  Then,  the  yards,  themselves,  came  down,  and  all 
the  light  sails  about  the  ships  vanished  as  a  bird  shuts  its  wings. 
After  this  the  courses  were  hauled  up  snug,  but  the  sails  were 
not  handed.  By  this  time,  the  leading  ship  of  these  two  frigates 
was  within  a  cable's  length  of  us,  just  luffing  up  sufficiently  to 
give  our  weather-quarter  the  necessary  berth. 

"  By  George,  Miles,"  Marble  said,  as  he  stood  at  my  side, 
watching  the  movements  of  the  stranger,  "  that  second  frigate 
is  the  Speedy !  I  know  her  by  the  billet,  and  the  distance  of 
her  bridle-port  from  her  head.  You  never  saw  such  a  space  for 
anchors  before  !  Then  you  may  see  she  is  a  six-and-thirty,  Avith 
white  hammock-cloths.  Who  ever  saw  that  twice  at  sea  ?" 

Marble  was  right !  There  came  the  Speedy,  sure  enough ; 
and  doubtless  the  eyes  of  Lord  Harry  Dermond  and  his  officers 
would  be  on  us,  in  a  very  few  more  minutes — the  distance  be 
tween  the  two  frigates  being  less  than  two  cables'  lengths.  In 
the  mean  time,  I  had  to  attend  to  the  headmost  vessel. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  any  thing  of  the  two  ships  to  the  south- 


272  MILES      ATALLINOFORD. 

ward  of  us?"  demanded  tlie  stranger,  through,  his  trumpet,  with 
out  any  preamble. 

"  Nothing  but  what  you  see,  sir.  I  suppose  them  to  be 
French ;  and  see  that  they  are  coming  after  you." 

"  After  us !"  exclaimed  the  English  captain,  in  a  voice  loud 
enough,  and  now  near  enough,  to  be  heard  without  the  aid  of 
the  trumpet.  "After  us,  indeed!  Ready  about — helms  a-lee — 
mam-topsail  haul,  there !  Hawl,  of  all" — 

These  orders  came  out  at  brief  intervals,  and  in  a  voice  of 
thunder,  producing  prompt  obedience.  The  consequence  was 
that  this  ship  tacked  directly  on  our  weather-beam,  and  so  near 
us  that  one  might  have  thrown  a  biscuit  aboard  her.  But  she 
went  round  beautifully,  scarce  losing  her  way  at  all,  and  away 
she  started  again,  looking  her  enemies  directly  in  the  faco. 

"  Now's  our  time  to  fill,  Miles,  and  draw  ahead.  The  Speedy 
will  think  we've  been  spoken,  and  all's  right  She  must  come 
here  to  tack  into  her  consort's  wake,  and  a  blind  man  could  not 
avoid  reading  our  name,  she  would  be  so  close.  Man  the  lee- 
braces,  and  right  the  helm,  Neb." 

Fill  we  did,  and  what  is  more,  we  put  our  helm  up  so  much 
as  to  leave  quite  a  cable's  length  between  us  and  the  Speedy, 
when  that  ship  got  far  enough  ahead  to  tack,  or  at  the  point 
which  we  had  just  left.  I  believe  we  were  recognized !  Indeed 
it  is  not  easy  to  imagine  otherwise,  as  the  commonest  glass 
would  enable  the  dullest  eyes  to  read  our  name,  were  other 
means  of  recognition  wanting.  But  a  sailor  knows  a  ship  by 
too  many  signs  to  be  easily  deceived. 

The  Speedy  was  in  stays  when  we  saw  the  proofs  of  our  be 
ing  known.  Her  head-yards  were  not  swung,  but  there  she  lay 
like  one  who  lingers,  uncertain  whether  to  go  or  to  remain.  An. 
officer  was  in  her  gangway  examining  us  with  a  glass,  and  when 
the  ship  fell  off  so  much  as  to  bring  us  out  of  the  range  of  sight, 
he  ran  off  and  reappeared  on  the  taffrail.  This  was  the  junior 
lieutenant ;  I  could  plainly  recognize  him  with  my  own  glass. 
Others  soon  joined  him,  and  among  tliem  was  Lord  Harry  Der- 
inond  himself.  I  fancied  they  even  knew  me,  and  that  all  their 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  2*73 

glasses  were  levelled  directly  at  my  face.  What  a  moment  of 
intense  uncertainty  was  that !  The  ships  were  not  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  apart,  though  the  Dawn  was  increasing  that  distance  fast, 
and  by  paying  broad  off  the  Speedy  would  have  me  under  her 
broadside.  Where  was  her  prize  crew  ?  Not  in  the  Dawn,  or 
certainly  Sennit  would  have  communicated  with  his  commander, 
and  if  not  in  the  ship  they  must  be  in  the  ocean !  Or,  were  they 
prisoners  below,  and  kept  purposely  out  of  sight  ?  All  these 
thoughts  must  have  passed  through  the  minds  of  the  English 
officers. 

I  thought  we  were  lost  again,  but  Providence  once  more  saved 
us.  All  this  time  the  leading  English  frigate  and  the  two  French 
men  were  fast  approaching  each  other.  In  a  few  minutes  they 
must  engage,  while  the  Speedy  was  left  farther  and  further 
astern  of  her  consort.  At  this  critical  instant,  one  of  the  French 
men  fired  a  gun  of  defiance.  That  report  seemed  to  arouse  the 
Speedy  as  from  a  trance.  Her  head-yards  came  furiously  round, 
all  the  officers  vanished  from  her  taffrail,  and  down  went  both 
fore  and  main-tacks,  and  to  the  mast-head  rose  all  three  of  her 
topgallant-sails.  Thus  additionally  impelled,  the  lively  craft 
dashed  ahead,  and  was  soon  in  her  allotted  berth,  or  half  a 
cable's  length  astern  of  the  Black  Prince,  as  I  afterward  heard 
was  the  name  of  the  commanding  English  ship,  on  this  occasion. 
I  may  as  well  add  here,  that  the  French  commodore's  ship  was 
named  la  Desiree,  and  her  consort  le  Cerf.  Monsieur  Menue- 
val  was  senior  officer  of  the  French  and  Sir  Hotham  Ward  of 
the  English.  I  never  knew  the  name  of  the  "other  French  cap 
tain,  or  if  I  did  I  have  forgotten  it. 

My  object  had  been,  in  bearing  up,  to  get  as  far  as  possible 
from  the  Speedy,  in  order  that  she  might  not  recognize  us,  aad 
especially  that  she  might  not  read  the  name  on  our  stern.  But 
this  running  off  so  much  to  leeward,  was  not  precisely  the  berth 
that  one  would  wish  to  occupy  when  a  sea-fight  is  going  on  di 
rectly  to  windward,  and  within  half  gunshot.  No  sooner  was 
my  Lord  Harry  Derrnond  in  motion  again,  therefore,  than  we 
hauled  the  Dawn  up  with  her  head  to  the  westward,  with  a  view 


274  MILES      Vf  A  L  L  I  N  G  ¥  O  R  V . 

to  get  as  soon  as  possible  out  of  the  probable  range  of  the  fire. 
It  was  true,  the  combatants  might  vary  their  manoeuvres,  so  as 
to  render  all  parts  of  the  periphery  of  a  certain  circle  around 
them  any  thing  but  agreeable,  but  the  chances  were  greatly  in  fa 
vor  of  the  battle's  beginning,  with  one  party  to  windward  of  the 
other. 

Our  ship  behaved  well  on  this  occasion,  getting  out  of  the 
way  with  sufficient  rapidity.  While  this  was  in  the  course  of 
execution,  I  had  an  opportunity  to  look  after  the  corvette  and 
the  lugger.  The  last  was  still  leading,  having  managed  by 
means  of  short  tacks  to  work  up  considerably  to  windward  of 
the  two  French  frigates.  Here  she  had  made  a  last  tack  to  the 
eastward,  intending  to  run  for  the  coast.  The  sloop-of-war  was 
still  in  her  wake,  and  was  following  on  her  heels  at  a  rapid  rate. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  275 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"  You  and  I  have 
known,  sir." 
"  At  sea,  I  think." 
"  We  have,  sir." 

"Ton  have  done  well  by  water." 
"  And  you  by  land." 

ANTONY  AND  CLEOPATRA. 

THE  reader  will  understand  that  I  offer  to  his  view  a  shifting 
panorama.  As  soon  as  the  Dawn  had  got  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  English  frigates,  a  distance  that  was  a  little  in 
creased  by  the  advance  of  the  last  toward  their  enemies,  we 
again  backed  our  topsails,  for  I  had  an  ungovernable  desire  to 
be  a  spectator  of  what  was  to  follow.  This  feeling  was  common 
to  all  four  of  us,  it  being  next  to  impossible  to^get  either  Neb 
or  Diogenes  to  pull  a  rope,  for  gazing  at  the  frigates.  As  for 
steering,  i£  would  have  been  out  of  the  question,  I  really  believe, 
as  no  one  among  us  could  keep  his  eyes  long  enough  from  the 
combatants  to  look  after  our  own  ship. 

Some  persons  may  think  it  was  foolish  not  to  make  the  most 
of  our  time  in  endeavoring  to  get  as  far  as  possible  from  the 
Speedy.  Perhaps  it  was ;  but,  two  miles  distant,  there  was 
really  less  to  apprehend  than  might  at  first  appear.  It  was  not 
probable  the  English  would  abandon  the  French  vessels  as  long 
as  they  could  stick  by  them,  or,  until  they  were  captured ;  and 
I  was  not  so  completely  ignorant  of  my  trade  as  to  imagine  that 
vessels  like  those  of  la  Grande  Nation,  which  were  in  sight, 
wcro  to  be  taken  without  doing  their  adversaries  a  good  deal  of 
harm.  Then,  the  prizes  themselves  would  require  looking  after, 
and  there  were  many  other  chances  of  our  now  going  scot-free, 
while  there  was  really  very  small  ground  of  danger.  But,  put- 


270  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

ting  aside  all  these  considerations,  curiosity  and  interest  were  so 
active  in  us  all,  as  to  render  it  almost  morally  impossible  we 
should  quit  the  place  nntil  the  battle  was  decided.  I  am  not 
absolutely  certain  the  Dawn  would  have  moved,  had  we  been 
disposed  to  make  her.  With  these  brief  explanations,  then,  we 
will  turn  our  attention  exclusively  to  the  frigates. 

By  the  time  we  had  got  the  Dawn  just  where  we  wished  her  to 
be,  the  combatants  were  drawing  quite  near  to  each  other.  The 
Speedy  had  carried  sail  so  long,  as  to  be  a  little  to  windward  of 
her  consort's  wake,  though  half  a  cable's  length  astern  of  her. 
The  French  were  in  still  closer  order,  and  they  would  soon  be 
far  enough  advanced  to  bring  the  leading  ship  on  each  side,  un 
der  fire.  I  suppose  the  opposing  vessels  would  pass  about  a 
cable's  length  apart.  All  four  were  under  their  topsails,  jibs, 
and  spankers,  with  the  courses  in  the  brails.  The  Black  Prince 
and  the  Speedy  had  their  topgallant-sails  clewed  up,  while  la 
Desiree  and  le  Cerf  had  theirs  still  sheeted  home,  with  the  yards 
on  the  caps.  All  four  vessels  had  sent  down  royal-yards.  This 
was  fighting  sail,  and  every  thing  indicated  that  Monsieur  Men- 
neval  intended  to  make  a  day  of  it. 

The  first  gun  was  fired,  on  this  occasion,  from  the  Desiree,  the 
leading  French  ship.  It  was  directed  at  the  Black  Prince,  and 
the  shot  probably  told,  as  Sir  Hotham  Ward  immediately  kept 
away,  evidently  with  a  desire  to  escape  being  raked.  The 
French  did  the  same  to  keep  square  with  their  adversaries,  and 
the  four  vessels  now  ran  on  parallel  lines,  though  going  differ 
ent  ways,  and  a  short  cable's  length  asunder.  La  Desiree  fol 
lowed  up  her  single  gun  with  each  division  as  it  would  bear, 
until  her  whole  broadside  was  delivered.  The  Black  Prince- 
stood  it  all  without  answering,  though  I  could  see  that  she  was 
suffering  considerably,  more  especially  aloft.  At  length  Sir 
Hotham  Ward  was  heard  in  the  affair.  He  let  fly  his  whole 
broadside,  almost  simultaneously'  and  a  spiteful,  threatening 
roar  it  was.  The  smoke  now  began  to  hide  his  ship,  though 
la  Desiree,  by  moving  toward  us,  keot  ahead  of  her  own  sul 
phurous  canopy. 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  Sf  O  R  D .  277 

The  Speed}  soon  opened  on  the  French  commodore;  then, 
by  the  roar  astern,  I  knew  le  Cerf  was  at  work  in  the  smoke. 
All  four  ships  shivered  their  topsails,  to  pass  more  slowly  ;  and 
there  was  a  minute  during  which,  as  it  appeared  to  me,  all  four 
actually  stopped  under  the  fiery  cloud  they  had  raised,  in  order 
to  do  each  other  all  the  harm  they  could.  The  Frenchmen, 
however,  soon  issued  from  behind  the  curtain,  and  the  cessation 
in  the  firing  announced  that  the  ships  had  parted.  I  could  not 
see  much  of  the  English,  at  first,  on  account  of  the  smoke  ; 
but  their  antagonists  came  out  of  the  fray,  short  as  it  had  been, 
with  torn  sails,  crippled  yards,  and  le  Ccrf  had  her  mizzen- top 
mast  actually  hanging  over  to  leeward.  Just  as  I  got  a  view  of 
this  calamity,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  Black  Prince,  close 
hauled,  luffing  up  athwart  the  wake  of  her  enemies,  and  mani 
festly  menacing  to  get  the  wind.  The  Speedy  followed  with  the 
accuracy  of  clock-work,  having  rather  closed  with  her  leader, 
instead  of  falling  farther  behind.  Presently,  the  Black  Prince 
tacked ;  but,  in  so  doing,  down  came  her  main-topgallant-mast, 
bringing  with  it  the  yard  and  the  sail,  as  a  matter  of  course. 
This  was  a  sign  that  Mr.  Menneval  had  not  been  firing  a  sa 
lute. 

The  French  stood  on,  after  this  first  rude  essay  with  their 
•  enemies,  for  several  minutes,  during  which  time  we  could  see 
their  people  actively,  but  irregularly,  employed,  in  clearing 
away  the  wrecks,  stoppering  rigging,  and  otherwise  repairing 
damages.  Le  Cerf,  in  particular,  was  much  troubled  •with  the 
topmast  that  was  dangling  over  her  lee-quarter  ;  and  her  people 
made  desperate  and  tolerably  well-directed  efforts  to  get  rid  of 
it.  This  they  effected ;  and  about  ten  minutes  after  the  firing 
had  ceased,  the  French  ships  put  their  helms  up,  and  went  oft 
to  the  northward,  dead  before  the  wind,  as  if  inviting  their  ene 
mies  to  come  on  and  fight  it  out  fairly  in  that  manner,  if  they 
felt  disposed  to  pursue  the  affair  any  farther. 

It  was  time  something  of  this  sort  was  done,  for  the  delay 
had  brought  all  four  vessels  so  far  to  the  westward,  as  to  leavo 
them  within  a  mile  of  the  Dawn ;  and  I  saw  the  necessity  of 


278  MILES      WALLINCFOUD. 

again  getting  out  of  the  way.  We  filled  and  stood  off,  as  fast 
as  possible.  It  was  time  something  of  the  sort  was  done,  in 
another  sense,  also.  When  Monsieur  Menneval  bore  up,  his  an 
tagonists  were  closing  fast  on  his  weather-quarter,  and  unless  he 
meant  to  fight  to  leeward,  it  was  incumbent  on  him  to  get  out 
of  the  way,  in  his  turn. 

Sir  Hotham  Ward,  however,  was  too  skilful  a  seaman  to  neg 
lect  the  advantage  Monsieur  Menneval  had  given  him.  The 
instant  the  French  kept  away,  he  did  the  same ;  but,  instead  of 
falling  broad  off  before  the  wind,  he  luffed  again  in  time,  not 
having  touched  a  brace,  and  crossed  the  wakes  of  his  enemies, 
giving  a  most  effective  broadside  into  the  cabin  windows  of  le 
Cerf.  To  my  surprise,  la  Desiree  held  on  her  course,  until  the 
Speedy  had  repeated  the  dose.  The  English  then  wore  short 
round,  and  were  seemingly  on  the  point  of  going  over  the  same 
thing,  when  Monsieur  Menneval,  finding  this  a  losing  game, 
hauled  up,  firing  as  his  guns  bore,  and  le  Cerf  did  the  same, 
with  her  head  the  other  way,  destroying  every  thing  like  concert 
in  their  movements.  The  English  closed,  and,  in  a  minute,  all 
four  of  the  ships  were  enveloped  in  a  common  cloud  of  white 
smoke.  All  we  could  now  see,  were  the  masts,  from  the  trucks 
down,  sometimes  as  low  as  the  tops,  but  oftener  not  lower  than 
the  topsail-yards.  The  reports  of  the  guns  were  quite  rapid  for 
a  quarter  of  an  hour,  after  which  they  became  much  less  fre 
quent,  though  a  hundred  pieces  of  ordnance  were  still  at  work 
behind  that  cloudy  screen. 

Several  shot  flew  in  our  direction  ;  and  two  actually  passed 
between  our  masts.  Notwithstanding,  so  keen  was  the  inter 
est  we  continued  to  feel,  that  the  topsail  was  again  backed,  and 
there  we  lay,  lookers-on,  as  indifferent  to  the  risks  we  ran,  as  if 
we  had  been  ashore.  Minute  passed  after  minute,  until  a  con 
siderable  period  had  been  consumed ;  yet  neither  of  the  com 
batants  became  fairly  visible  to  us.  Occasionally  a  part  of  a 
hull  pushed  itself  out  of  the  smoke,  or  the  wind  blew  the  latter 
aside ;  but  at  no  time  was  the  curtain  sufficiently  drawn,  to  en 
able  us  to  tell  to  which  nation  the  vessel  thus  seen  belonged. 


MILES     WALLINGFORO.  279 

The  masts  had  disappeared — not  one  remaining  above  the 
smoke,  which  had  greatly  enlarged  its  circle,  however. 

In  this  manner  passed  an  hour.  It  was  one  of  the  most  in 
tensely  interesting  of  my  whole  life ;  and  to  me  it  seemed  a  day, 
so  eager  Avas  I  to  ascertain  some  result.  I  had  been  several 
times  in  action,  as  the  reader  knows ;  but,  then,  the  minutes 
flew :  whereas,  now,  this  combat  appeared  drawn  out  to  an  in 
terminable  length.  I  have  said,  an  hour  thus  passed  before  we 
could  even  guess  at  the  probable  result.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  the  firing  entirely  ceased.  It  had  been  growing  slacker 
and  slacker  for  the  last  half  hour,  but  it  now  stopped  altogether. 
The  smoke  which  appeared  to  be  packed  on  the  ocean-,  began 
to  rise  and  disperse ;  and,  little  by  little,  the  veil  rose  from  be 
fore  that  scene  of  strife. 

The  vessel  first  seen  by  its  was  our  old  acquaintance,  the 
Speedy.  All  three  of  her  topmasts  were  gone;  the  fore,  just 
below  the  cross-trees ;  and  the  two  others  near  the  lower  caps. 
Her  main-yard  had  lost  one  yard-arm,  and  her  lower  rigging  and 
sides  were  covered  with  wreck.  She  had  her  foresail,  mizzen, 
and  fore  staysail,  and  spanker  set,  which  was  nearly  all  the  can 
vas  she  could  show. 

Our  eyes  had  barely  time  to  examine  the  Speedy,  ere  the 
dark  hull  of  le  Ceif  made  its  appearance.  This  ship  had  been 
very  roughly  treated,  nothing  standing  on  board  her,  twenty 
feet  from  the  deck,  but  her  foremast ;  and  the  head  of  that  was 
gone,  nearly  down  to  the  top.  The  sea  all  round  her  was  cov-. 
ered  with  wreck ;  and  no  less  than  three  of  her  boats  were  out, 
picking  up  men  who  were  adrift  on  the  spars.  She  lay  about  a 
cable's  length  from  the  Speedy,  and  appeared  to  be  desirous  of 
being  still  farther  off,  as  she  had  no  sooner  got  her  boats  up, 
than  she  dropped  her  foresail,  and  stood  off  dead  before  it. 

It  was  in  watching  the  movements  of  le  Ceif,  that  we  first 
got  a  glimpse  of  la  Desiree.  This  ship  reappeared  almost  in  a 
line  with  her  consort ;  and,  like  her,  steering  off  before  the  wind. 
Their  common  object  seemed  to  be,  to  get  within  close  support 
ing  distance  of  each  other,  and  to  increase  the  space  between 


280  MILES      "WALLINGFOKD. 

them  and  their  enemies.  Both  these  vessels  had  the  tricolorcd 
flag  flying  at  the  stumps  of  their  masts.  As  respects  the  last, 
however,  la  Desiree  was  a  little  better  off  than  her  consort — 
having  her  foremast  and  mainmast  standing  entire,  though  her 
mizzenmast  was  gone,  close  to  the  deck.  What  was  a  very  bad 
affair  for  her,  her  fore-yard  had  been  shot  away  in  the  slings, 
the  two  inner  ends  lying  on  the  forecastle,  while  the  yard-arms 
were  loosely  sustained  by  the  lifts.  This  ship  kept  off  under 
her  mainsail  and  fore  staysail. 

The  Black  Prince  was  the  last  to  get  clear  of  the  smoke. 
She  had  every  thing  in  its  place,  from  her  topmast  cross-trees 
down.  The  three  topgallant-masts  were  gone,  and  the  wrecks 
were  already  cleared ;  but  all  the  topsail-yards  were  on  the  caps, 
and  her  rigging,  spars,  and  tops  were  alive  with  men ;  as  indeed 
were  those  of  the  Speedy.  This  was  the  secret  of  the  cessation 
in  the  action ;  the  two  English  frigates  having  turned  their 
hands  up  to  secure  tlieir  spars,  while  the  Frenchmen,  by  running 
off  dead  before  the  wind,  were  in  positions  not  to  bring  a  broad 
side  gun  to  bear ;  and  the  cabin-chasers  of  a  frigate  were  seldom 
of  much  use  in  that  day,  on  account  of  the  rake  of  the  stern. 
It  always  appeared  to  me  that  the  Spaniards  built  the  best 
ships  in  this  respect,  the  English  and  Americans  in  particular 
seeming  never  to  calculate  the  chances  of  running  away.  I  do 
not  say  this,  in  reference  to  the  Spanish  ships,  however,  under 
any  idea  that  the  Spanish  nation  wants  courage — for  a  falser 
.notion  cannot  exist — but  merely  to  state  their  superiority  in  one 
point  of  naval  architecture,  at  the  very  moment  when,  having 
built  a  fine  ship,  they  did  not  know  how  to  make  use  of  her. 

The  first  ten  minutes  after  the  four  combatants  were  clear  of 
the  smoke,  were  actively  employed  in  repairing  damages ;  on  the 
part  of  the  French  confusedly,  and  I  make  no  doubt  clamorously; 
on  that  of  the  English  with  great  readiness  and  a  perfect  under 
standing  of  their  business.  Notwithstanding  this  was  the  gen 
eral  character  of  the  exertions  of  the  respective  parties,  there 
were  exceptions  to  the  rule.  On  board  le  Cerf,  for  instance,  I 
observed  a  gang  of  men  at  work  clearing  the  ship  from  the 


MILES      W  A  I,  I.  I  \  G  I  O  R  D .  281 

wreck  of  the  mainmast,  who  proceeded  with  a  degree  of  cool 
ness,  vigor,  and  method,  which  showed  what  materials  were 
thrown  away  in  that  service  for  want  of  a  good  system ;  and 
chiefly,  as  I  shall  always  think,  because  the  officers  did  not  un 
derstand  the  immense  importance  of  preserving  silence  on  board 
a  crowded  vessel.  The  native  taciturnity  of  the  English,  in 
creased  by  the  social  discipline  of  that  well-ordered — perhaps 
over-ordered — nation,  has  won  them  as  many  battles  on  the 
ocean,  as  the  native  loquacity  of  their  enemies — increased  pos 
sibly  during  the  reign  of  les  cltoyens  by  political  exaggeration — 
has  lost.  It  is  lucky  for  us  that  the  American  character  inclines 
to  silence  and  thoughtfulncss,  in  grave  emergencies ;  we  are 
noisy,  garrulous,  and  sputtering,  only  in  our  politics. 

Perceiving  that  the  storm  was  likely  to  pass  to  leeward,  we 
remained  stationary  a  little  time  to  watch  the  closing  scene.  I 
was  surprised  at  the  manner  in  which  the  Black  Prince  held 
aloof  after  the  Speedy  had  bore  up  and  was  running  down  in 
the  track  of  her  enemies,  sheering  first  upon  one  quarter  of  le 
Cerf  and  then  on  the  other,  pouring  in  a  close  and  evidently  a 
destructive  fire.  At  length  Sir  Hotham  Ward  bore  up,  and 
went  off  before  the  wind  also,  moving  three  fcet  to  the  Speedy's 
two,  in  consequence  of  being  able  to  carry  all  three  of  her  top 
sails.  It  would  seem  that  Monsieur  Menneval  was  not  satisfied 
•with  the  manner  in  Avhich  his  consort  Avas  treated ;  for  instead 
of  Avaiting  to  be  assailed  in  the  same  Avay  he  put  his  helm  to 
port  and  came  by  the  Avind,  delivering  a  broadside  as  his  ship 
luffed,  that  soon  explained  the  reason  of  the  Black  Prince's 
delay.  That  ship  had  been  getting  up  preventers  to  save  her 
masts,  and  something  important  must  have  been  cut  by  this  dis 
charge  from  la  Desiree,  as  her  mainmast  Avent  immediately  after 
she  received  the  fire,  dragging  down  Avith  it  her  mizzcn-topmast. 
The  English  ship  showed  stuff,  hoAvever,  under  circumstances  so 
critical.  Every  thing  on  the  foremast  still  drew,  and  she  con 
tinued  on,  heading  direct  for  her  enemy,  nor  did  she  attempt  to 
luff  until  Avithin  tAvo  hundred  yards  of  her,  Avhen  she  came  by 
the  Avind  slowly  and  heavily,  a  manoeuvre  that  Avas  materially 


MILES      WALLINGFORD. 


aided  by  the  fore-topmast's  following  the  spars  aft,  just  as  her 
helm  must  have  been  put  to  port.  Le  Cerf  finding  the  battle 
was  again  to  be  stationary,  also  came  by  the  wind,  and  then  all 
four  of  the  ships  went  at  it  again,  as  ardently  as  if  the  affair  had 
just  commenced. 

It  would  not  be  easy  to  relate  all  the  incidents  of  this  second 
combat.  For  two  hours  the  four  ships  lay  within  a  cable's 
length  of  each  other,  keeping  up  as  animated  a  contest  as  cir 
cumstances  would  allow.  I  was  particularly  struck  with  the 
noble  behavior  of  the  Black  Prince,  which  ship  was  compelled 
to  fire  through  the  wreck  of  her  masts,  notwithstanding  which, 
she  manifestly  got  the  best  of  the  cannonading,  as  against  her 
particular  antagonist  la '  Desiree.  I  cannot  say  that  either  of 
the  four  vessels  failed  of  her  duty,  though,  I  think,  as  a  Avhole, 
Sir  Hotham  Ward  showed  the  most  game,  probably  from  the 
fact  that  he  had  the  most  need  of  it.  Encumbered  by  so  much 
wreck,  of  which  it  was  impossible  to  get  rid  while  exposed  to 
so  heavy  a  fire,  the  Black  Prince,  however,  was  finally  dropped 
by  her  adversary,  la  Desiree  drawing  gradually  ahead,  until  nei 
ther  of  those  two  vessels  could  bring  a  gun  to  bear.  The  Eng 
lish  now  turned  to  to  clear  away  wreck  again,  while  the  French 
man  bent  a  new  fore-course  and  a  new  spanker,  those  that  had 
been  standing  being  reduced  to  rags. 

The  Speedy  and  Cerf  had  not  been  idle  the  while.  The 
French  vessel  played  her  part  manfully,  nor  was  there  much  to 
choose  between  them,  when  the  latter  wore  round  and  followed 
her  consort,  exchanging  a  fire  with  the  Black  Prince  in  passing 
her. 

Had  not  the  real  superiority  of  the  English  over  the  French 
on  the  ocean  now  come  in  play,  this  combat  would  have  been  a 
diAwn  battle,  though  accompanied  by  the  usual  characteristics 
of  such  straggles,  at  the  close  of  the  last  and  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century;  or  the  latter  considering  an  escape  a  sort 
of  victory.  But  both  parties  were  reduced  to  the  necessity  of 
repairing  damages,  and  this  was  the  work  to  prove  true  nautical 
skill.  Any  man  may  load  and  fire  a  gun,  but  it  needs  a  trained 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  283 

seaman  lo  meet  the  professional  emergencies  of  warfare.  A  clod 
hopper  might  knock  a  mast  out  of  a  vessel,  but  a  sailor  must 
replace  it.  From  the  beginning  of  this  affair,  all  of  us  in  the 
Dawn  had  been  struck  with  the  order,  regularity,  and  dispatch 
with  which  the  Black  Prince  and  Speedy  had  made  and  short 
ened  sail,  and  the  quickness  and  resource  with  which  they  had 
done  all  that  seamanship  required  in  securing  wounded  spars 
and  torn  sails ;  while  there  had  been  no  end  to  Marble's  sneers 
and  comments  on  the  bungling  confusion  of  the  French.  This 
difference  now  became  doubly  apparent,  when  there  was  no 
smoke  nor  any  cannonading  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  respect 
ive  crews.  In  half  an  hour  the  Black  Prince  was  clear  of  the 
wreck,  and  she  had  bent  several  new  sails,  while  the  difficulties 
on  board  her  antagonist  appeared  just  then  to  be  at  their  height. 
This  same  difference  existed  between  the  two  other  vessels, 
though,  on  the  whole,  le  Cerf  got  out  of  her  distress  sooner  and 
more  skilfully  th-m  her  consort.  As  to  the  Speedy,  I  must  do 
my  old  acquaintance,  Lord  Harry  Dermond,  the  justice  to  say, 
that  he  both  fought  his  ship  and  repaired  his  damages  in  a  highly 
seaman-like  manner.  I'll  answer  for  it,  the  Hon.  Lieutenant 
Powlett  had  not  much  to  do  with  either.  He  had  much  better 
been  in  his  mother's  draAving-room  that  day,  and  permitted  a 
more  fitting  man  to  fill  his  place.  Sennit  was  then  on  his  way 
to  Barbadoes,  however,  nor  do  I  believe  your  master  of  a  press- 
gang  ever  does  much  before  an  enemy. 

Fully  two  hours  passed,  during  which  the  combatants  were 
busy  in  repairing  damages.  At  the  end  of  this  time,  la  Desi- 
ree  and  le  Cerf  had  drawn  more  than  a  mile  to  the  eastward 
of  the  English  ships  ;  the  latter  following  them,  as  soon  as  clear 
of  their  wrecks,  but  under  diminished  sail.  The  Black  Prince 
had  actually  got  up  three  spare  topmasts,  in  the  interval,  and 
was  now  ready  to  set  their  sails.  The  Speedy  was  less  active, 
or  less  skilful,  though  she,  too,  had  not  been  idle.  Then  the 
English  drove  fast  toward  their  enemies.  Monsieur  Mcnneval 
bore  up  in  good  season,  this  time,  edging  away,  and  opening 
the  fire  of  botli  ships  on  his  adversaries,  when  they  were  about 


284  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

half  a  mile  distant.  The  effect  of  this  early  movement  Avas 
soon  apparent,  it  being  a  great  mistake  to  reserve  a  ship's  fire, 
as  against  an  enemy  that  approaches  nearly  bows  on.  M'Don- 
ough  owed  his  victory  in  Plattsburg  Bay,  to  having  improved 
so  favorable  a  chance ;  and  the  French  were  beaten  at  the  Nile, 
because  they  did  not ;  though  Nelson  probably  would  have  over 
come  them  under  any  circumstances  ;  the  energy  imparted  by 
one  of  his  character,  more  than  counterbalancing  any  little  ad 
vantage  in  tactics. 

On  the  present  occasion,  we  could  see  the  fire  of  the  French 
taking  effect  on  the  Black  Prince's  spars,  as  soon  as  they  open 
ed  her  batteries.  As  the  matter  was  subsequently  explained  in 
the  official  account,  that  ship's  lower  masts  were  badly  wounded 
before  she  sent  up  the  new  topmasts;  and,  receiving  some  fur 
ther  injuries,  stick  began  to  come  down  after  stick,  until  noth 
ing  was  left  of  all  her  hamper,  but  three  stumps  of  lower  masts, 
the  highest  less  than  twenty  feet  above  the  deck.  Sir  Hotham 
Ward  was  now  in  the  Avorst  plight  he  had  been  in  that  day,  his 
ship  being  unable  to  advance  a  foot,  her  drift  excepted,  until 
every  thing  was  cut  away.  To  the  landsman  it  may  appear  a 
small  job  to  cut  ropes  with  axes,  and  thus  liberate  a  vessel  from 
the  encumbrance  and  danger  of  falling  spars  ;  but  the  seaman 
knows  it  is  often  a  most  delicate  and  laborious  piece  of  duty. 
The  ocean  is  never  quiet ;  and  a  vessel  that  is  not  steadied  by 
the  pressure  of  her  sails,  frequently  rolls  in  a  Avay  to  render  it  no 
slight  task  even  to  maintain  one's  footing  on  her  decks;  frigates 
and  ships  of  the  line  frequently  proving  more  inconvenient  than 
smaller  vessels,  under  such  circumstances. 

There  Avas  one  fortunate  occurrence  to  the  British,  connected 
Avith  this  disaster.  The  French  had  been  so  thoroughly  bent 
on  dismasting  the  Black  Prince,  that  they  paid  little  attention 
to  the  Speedy ;  that  ship  actually  passing  a  short  distance  to 
windward  of  her  consort,  unnoticed  and  unharmed.  As  the 
French  Avere  going  to  leeward  the  whole  time,  it  enabled  the 
Speedy  to  get  out  of  the  range  of  their  guns,  before  she  bore 
up.  As  soon  as  this  Avas  effected,  she  followed  her  enemies, 


MILKS      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  285 

under  twice  as  much  canvas  as  they  carried  themselves.  Of 
course,  in  less  than  half  an  hour,  she  was  enabled  to  close  with 
Ic  Cerf,  coming  up  on  one  of  her  quarters,  and  opening  a  heavy 
fire  close  aboard  her.  All  this  time,  the  Black  Prince  remained 
like  a  log  upon  the  water,  trying  to  get  clear  of  her  wreck,  the 
combat  driving  slowly  away  from  her  to  leeward.  Her  men 
worked  like  ants,  and  we  actually  heard  the  cheers  they  raised, 
as  the  hull  of  their  ship  forged  itself  clear  of  the  maze  of  masts, 
yards,  sails,  and  rigging,  in  which  it  had  been  so  long  envel 
oped.  This  was  no  sooner  done,  than  she  let  fall  a  sail  from 
her  spritsail-yard,  one  bent  for  the  occasion,  and  a  topgallant- 
sail  was  set  to  a  light  spar  that  had  been  rigged  against  the 
stump  of  the  mainmast — the  stick  that  rose  highest  from  her 
deck. 

As  the  battle,  like  a  gust  in  the  heavens,  was  passing  to  lee 
ward,  Marble  and  I  determined  to  fill,  and  follow  the  combat 
ants  down,  the  course  being  precisely  that  we  wished  to  steer. 
With  a  view,  however,  to  keep  out  of  the  range  of  shot,  we 
hauled  the  Dawn  up  to  the  eastward,  first,  intending  to  keep 
her  in  the  wake  of  the  Black  Prince.  Of  course  we  were  in 
no  hurry,  it  now  being  in  our  power  to  go  six  feet  to  that  ship's 
one. 

In  executing  our  purpose,  we  passed  close  to  the  wreck  of  the 
English  frigate's  spars.  There  they  were  rolling  about  on  the 
troubled  water,  and  we  actually  saw  the  body  of  a  man  caught 
in  some  of  the  rigging,  as  the  sea  occasionally  tossed  it  to  the 
surface.  The  poor  fellow  had  probably  gone  over  with  the 
mast  and  been  drowned  before  assistance  could  be  rendered. 
With  an  enemy  escaping,  man-of-war' s-men  are  not  very  partic 
ular  about  picking  up  the  bodies  of  their  dead. 

I  did  not  venture  to  run  the  Dawn  directly  down  in  the  Eng 
lishman's  wake,  but  we  kept  her  off  and  on,  rather,  taking  good 
care  not  to  go  within  a  mile  of  her.  All  this  time  the  Speedy 
was  playing  upon  the  Cerf's  quarter,  the  latter  ship  becoming 
too  crippled  to  luff,  while  Monsieur  Menneval  was  travelling  oft' 
to  leeward,  unmolested,  having  obtained  an  advantage  in  the 


286  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

way  of  speed,  that  be  was  unwilling  to  put  in  any  jeopardy  by 
coming  again  under  fire.  This  officer  did  not  want  for  spirit, 
but  the  French  had  got  to  be  so  accustomed  to  defeat,  in  their 
naval  encounters  with  the  English,  that,  like  several  other  na 
tions  on  the  land,  they  had  begun  to  look  upon  victory  as  hope 
less.  The  Cerf  was  very  nobly  fought.  Notwithstanding  the 
disadvantages  under  which  she  labored,  that  ship  held  out 
until  the  Black  Prince  had  actually  given  her  a  close  broadside 
on  her  larboard  quarter ;  the  Speedy  being  kept  the  whole  time 
on  her  starboard  with  great  skill,  pouring  in  a  nearly  unresisted 
fire.  The  Cerf  struck  only  as  she  found  that  the  battle  was  to 
be  two  to  one,  and  under  so  many  other  disadvantages,  in  the 
bargain. 

This  closed  the  affair,  so  far  as  the  fighting  was  concerned, 
la  Desiree  standing  on  unmolested,  though,  as  I  afterward 
learned,  she  was  picked  up  next  morning  by  a  homeward- 
bound  English  two-decker,  hauling  down  her  colors  without 
any  resistance. 

The  reader  may  feel  some  curiosity  to  know  how  we  felt  on 
board  the  Dawn,  during  the  five  hours  that  elapsed  between  the 
firing  of  the  first  and  the  last  guns,  on  this  occasion ;  what  was 
said  among  us,  and  how  we  proceeded  as  soon  as  the  victory 
was  decided.  The  last  he  will  learn  in  the  regular  course  of  the 
narrative ;  as  for  the  first,  it  is  soon  told.  It  was  not  easy  to 
find  four  men  who  were  more  impartial,  as  between  the  com 
batants,  than  those  in  the  Dawn.  My  early  preferences  had  cer 
tainly  been  in  favor  of  England,  as  was  very  generally  the  case 
among  all  the  better-educated  Americans  of  my  period,  at  least 
as  low  down  as  the  war  of  1812.  But  going  beyond  the  scene  of 
internal  political  discussion,  and  substituting  observation  for  the 
eulogies  and  sophisms  of  the  newspapers,  had  wrought  divers 
changes  in  my  opinion.  England  was  then  no  more  to  me  than 
any  other  nation  ;  I  was  not  of  the  French  school  of  politics, 
however,  and  kept  myself  as  much  aloof  from  one  of  these 
foreign  schools  of  political  logicians  as  from  the  other.  I  may 
be  said  to  have  been  born  a  federalist ;  but  this  change  of 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  287 

sentiment  had  prevented  my  ever  giving  a  federal  vote  since 
attaining  my  majority. 

Marble  had  entertained  a  strong  dislike  for  England  ever  since 
the  Revolution.  But  at  the  same  time  he  had  inherited  the  vul 
gar  contempt  of  his  class  for  Frenchmen ;  and  I  must  own  that 
he  had  a  fierce  pleasure  in  seeing  the  combatants  destroy  each 
other.  Had  we  been  near  enough  to  witness  the  personal  suf- 
.  fering  inflicted  by  the  terrible  wounds  of  a  naval  combat,  I  make 
no  donbt  his  feelings  would  have  been  different ;  but,  as  things 
were,  he  only  saw  French  and  English  ships  tearing  each  oth 
er  to  pieces.  During  the  height  of  the  affair,  he  observed  to 
me  : — 

"  If  this  Monsieur  Gallois  and  his  bloody  lugger  could  only  be 
brought  into  the  scrape,  Miles,  my  mind  would  be  contented.  I 
should  glory  in  seeing  the  corvette  and  the  Polisson  scratching 
out  each  other's  eyes,  like  two  fish-women,  whose  dictionaries 
have  given  out." 

Neb  and  Diogenes  regarded  the  whole  thing  very  much  as 
I  suppose  the  Caesars  used  to  look  upon  the  arena  when  the 
gladiators  were  the  most  blood-thirsty.  The  negroes  would 
laugh,  cry  "  golly !"  or  shake  their  heads  with  delight,  when 
half  a  dozen  guns  went  oft'  together ;  receiving  the  reports  as  a 
sort  of  evidence  that  crashing  work  was  going  on,  on  board  the 
vessels.  But  I  overheard  a  dialogue  between  these  two  children 
of  Africa,  that  may  best  explain  their  feelings  : 

"  "Which  you  t'ink  whip,  Neb  ?"  Diogenes  asked,  with  a  grin 
that  showed  every  ivory  tooth  in  his  head. 

"  I  t'ink  'em  bot'  get  it  smartly,"  answered  my  fellow.  "  You 
see  how  a  Speedy  make  quick  work,  eh  ?" 

"  I  wish  'em  go  a  leetle  nearer,  Neb.  Some  shot  nebbcr  hit, 
Hi  all." 

"  Dat  always  so,  cook,  in  battle.  Dere !  dat  a  smasher  for 
John  Bull !" 

"  He  won't  want  to  press  more  men  just  now.     Eh !  Neb  ?" 

"  Now  you  see  Johnny  Crepaud  catch  it !  "Woss !  Dat  cracks 
'e  cabin  winders !" 


288  MILES      WALLINGFOKD. 

"What  dat  to  us,  Neb?  'Sposc  ho  cat  one  anoder,  don't 
hurt  us !" 

Here  the  two  spectators  broke  out  into  a  loud  fit  of  laughter, 
clapping  their  hands  and  swinging  their  bodies  about  as  if  the 
whole  thing  were  capital  fun.  Diogenes  was  so  much  delighted 
when  all  the  Black  Prince's  spars  went,  that  he  actually  began 
to  dance,  Neb  regarding  his  antics  with  a  sort  of  good-natured 
sympathy.  There  is  no  question  that  man,  at  the  bottom,  has 
a  good  deal  of  the  wild  beast  in  him,  and  that  he  can  be  brought 
to  look  upon  any  spectacle,  however  fierce  and  sanguinary,  as 
a  source  of  interest  and  entertainment.  If  a  criminal  is  to  be 
executed,  we  always  find  thousands  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages 
assembling  to  witness  a  fellow-creature's  agony,  and  although 
these  curious  personages  often  have  sentimental  qualms  during 
the  revolting  spectacle  itself,  they  never  turn  away  their  eyes, 
until  satisfied  with  all  that  there  is  to  be  seen  of  the  terrible 
or  the  revolting. 

A  word  must  be  added  concerning  an  acquaintance,  Monsieur 
Gallois.  Just  as  the  Black  Prince's  masts  went,  I  saw  him,  a 
long  way  to  windward,  stretching  in  toward  the  coast,  and  car 
rying  sail  as  hard  as  his  lugger  would  bear.  The  corvette  Avas 
still  close  at  his  heels,  and  Marble  soon  after  drew  my  attention 
toward  him  to  observe  the  smoke  that  was  rising  above  the 
sloop-of-war.  The  distance  was  so  great  and  the  guns  so  light 
that  we  heard  no  reports,  but  the  smoke  continued  to  rise  until 
both  vessels  went  out  of  sight,  in  the  south-western  board.  1 
subsequently  learned  that  the  lugger  escaped,  after  all.  She  was 
very  hard  pressed,  and  would  have  been  captured,  had  not  the 
English  ship  carried  away  her  main-topgallant-mast,  in  her  eager 
ness  to  get  alongside.  To  that  accident  alone  did  Monsieui 
Gallois  owe  his  escape.  I  trust  he  and  Monsieur  le  Gros  had 
a  happy  meeting. 


MILKb      WALLING  FORD.  289 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

a  The  sea  wax'd  calm,  and  wo  discovered 
Two  ships  from  far  making  amain  to  us, 
Of  Corinth  that,  of  Epidaurus  this : 
But  on  they  came— O,  let  me  say  no  more ! 
Gather  the  sequel  by  that  went  before." 

COMEDY  OF  ERRORS. 

IT  was  liigli  time  for  the  Dawn  to  be  doing.  Of  all  tlic  ships 
to  leeward,  the  Speedy,  the  vessel  we  had  most  reason  to  appre 
hend,  was  in  the  best  condition  to  do  us  harm.  It  was  true 
that  just  then  we  might  out-sail  her,  but  a  man-of-war's  crev 
would  soon  restore  the  balance  of  power,  if  it  did  not  mate  it 
preponderate  against  us.  I  called  to  my  mate,  and  we  went  aft 
to  consult. 

"  It  will  not  do  for  us  to  remain  any  longer  here,  Moses,"  I 
began ;  "  the  English  arc  masters  of  the  day,  and  the  Speedy's 
officers  having  recognized  us,  beyond  all  doubt,  she  will  be  on 
our  heels  the  moment  she  can." 

"  I  rather  think,  Miles,  her  travelling,  for  some  hours  to  come, 
is  over.  There  she  is,  however,  and  she  has  our  crew  on  board 
her,  and  it  would  be  a  good  thing  to  get  some  of  them,  if  possi 
ble.  If  a  body  had  a  boat,  now,  I  might  go  down  with  a  flag 
of  truce,  and  see  what  tarms  could  be  made." 

I  laughed  at  this  conceit,  telling  Marble  he  would  be  wise  to 
remain  where  he  was.  I  would  give  the  Speedy  four  hours  to 
got  herself  in  tolerable  sailing  trim  again,  supposing  her  bent  on 
pursuit.  If  in  no  immediate  hurry,  it  might  occupy  her  four- 
and-twenty  hours. 

"I  think  she  may  be  disposed  to  follow  the  other  Fretch 
frigate,  which  is  clearly  making  her  way  toward  Brest,"  I  add 
ed,  "  in  which  case  we  have  nothing  to  fear.  By  George  !  there 
13 


290  MILES      W  ALLINGFOP.  D. 

goes  a  gun,  and  here  comes  a  shot  in  our  direction-  you  can 
see  it,  Moses,  skipping  along  the  water,  almost  in  a  line  between 
us  and  the  frigate.  Ay,  here  it  comes !" 

All  this  was  literally  true.  The  Speedy  lay  with  her  bows 
toward  us,  and  she  had  suddenly  fired  the  shot  to  which  I  al 
luded,  and  which  now  came  bounding  from  wave  to  wave,  until 
it  struck  precisely  in  a  line  with  the  ship,  about  a  hundred  yards 
distant. 

"  Halloo !"  cried  Marble,  who  had  levelled  his  glass  toward 
the  frigates.  "  There's  the  deuce  to  pay  down  there,  Miles — 
one  boat  pulling  this-a-way,  for  life  or  death,  and  another  a'ter 
it.  The  shot  was  intended  for  the  leading  boat,  and  not  for  us." 

This  brought  my  glass  down,  too.  Sure  enough,  there  was  a 
small  boat  pulling  straight  for  us,  and  of  course  directly  to  wind 
ward  of  the  frigate ;  the  men  in  it  exerting  every  nerve.  There 
were  seven  seamen  in  this  boat ;  six  at  the  oars,  and  one  steer 
ing.  The  truth  flashed  on  me  in  a  moment.  These  were  some 
of  our  own  people,  headed  by  the  second  mate,  who  had  availed 
themselves  of  the  circumstance  of  one  of  the  Speedy's  boats 
being  in  the  water,  without  a  crew,  to  run  away  with  it  in  the 
confusion  of  the  moment.  The  Black  Prince  had  taken  posses 
sion  of  the  prize,  as  we  had  previously  noted,  and  that  with  a 
single  boat,  and  the  cutter  in  pursuit  appeared  to  me  to  be  com 
ing  from  the  Frenchman.  I  immediately  acquainted  Marble  with 
my  views  of  the  matter,  and  he  seized  on  the  idea  eagerly,  as  one 
probable  and  natural. 

"  Them's  our  fellows,  Miles !"  he  exclaimed ;  "  we  must  fill, 
and  meet  'em  half  way !" 

It  was  certainly  in  our  power  to  lessen  the  distance  the  fugi 
tives  had  to  run,  by  standing  down  to  meet  the  leading  boat. 
This  could  not  be  done,  however,  without  going  within  reach  of 
the  English  guns ;  the  late  experiment  showing  unanswerably, 
that  we  lay  just  without  the  drop  of  their  shot,  as  it  was.  I 
never  saw  men  in  a  greater  excitement,  than  that  which  now 
came  over  us  all  in  the  Dawn.  Fill,  we  did,  immediately ;  that, 
at  least,  could  do  no  harm  ;  whereas  it  might  do  much  good.  1 


MILES      'WALLINGFORD.  291 

never  supposed  for  a  moment  the  English  were  sending  boats 
after  us,  since,  -with  the  wind  that  was  blowing,  it  would  have 
been  easy  for  the  Dawn  to  leave  them  miles  behind  her,  in  the 
first  hour.  Each  instant  rendered  my  first  conjecture  the  most 
likely  to  be  true.  There  could  be  no  mistaking  the  exertions 
of  the  crews  of  the  two  boats;  the  pursuers  seemingly  doing 
their  best,  as  well  as  the  pursued.  The  frigate  could  no  longer 
fire,  however,  the  boats  being  already  in  a  line,  and  there  being 
equal  danger  to  both  from  her  shot. 

The  reader  will  understand  that  large  ships  seldom  engage, 
when  the  ocean  will  permit  it,  without  dropping  one  or  more 
of  their  boats  into  the  water;  and  that  warm  actions  at  sea 
rarely  occur,  without  most  of  the  boats  being,  more  or  less,  in 
jured.  It  often  happens  that  a  frigate  can  muster  only  one  or 
two  boats  that  will  swim,  after  a  combat ;  and  frequently  only 
the  one  she  had  taken  the  precaution  to  lower  into  the  water, 
previously  to  engaging.  It  was  owing  to  some  such  circum 
stance  that  only  one  boat  followed  the  fugitives  in  the  present 
instance.  The  race  must  necessarily  be  short;  and  it  would 
have  been  useless  to  send  a  second  boat  in  pursuit,  could  one 
be  found,  after  the  first  two  or  three  all-important  minutes  were 
lost. 

The  Dawn  showed  her  ensign,  as  a  sign  we  saw  our  poor  fel 
lows  struggling  to  regain  us,  and  then, we  filled  our  maintop- 
sail,  squaring  away  and  standing  down  directly  for  the  fugi 
tives.  Heavens !  how  that  main-yard  went  round,  though  there 
were  but  three  men  at  the  braces.  Each  of  us  hauled  and  work 
ed  like  a  giant.  There  was  every  inducement  of  feeling,  interest 
and  security  to  do  so.  With  our  present  force,  the  ship  could 
scarcely  be  said  to  be  safe;  whereas,  the  seven  additional  hands, 
and  they  our  own  people,  who  were  straining  every  nerve  to 
join  us,  would  at  once  enable  us  to  carry  the  ship  direct  to 
Hamburg. 

Our  old  craft  behaved  beautifully.  Neb  was  at  the  wheel,  the 
cook  on  the  forecastle,  while  Marble  and  I  got  ropes  cleared 
iway  to  throw  to  the  runaways,  as  soon  as  they  should  be  near 


292  MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  K  D . 

r.nough  to  receive  tlicm.  Down  we  drove  toward  tlie  boat,  and 
it  was  time  we  did,  for  the  cutter  in  pursuit,  which  pulled  ten 
oars,  and  was  full  manned,  was  gaining  fast  on  the  fugitives. 
As  AVC  afterward  learned,  in  the  eagerness  of  starting,  our  men 
had  shipped  the  crest  of  a  sea,  and  they  were  now  laboring  un 
der  the  great  disadvantage  of  carrying  more  than  a  barrel  of 
water,  which  was  washing  about  in  the  bottom  of  their  cutter, 
rendering  her  both  heavy  and  unsteady. 

So  intense  was  the  interest  we  all  felt  in  the  result  of  this 
struggle,  that  our  feelings  during  the  battle  could  not  be  corn- 
pared  to  it.  I  could  see  Marble  move  his  body,  as  a  sitter  in  a 
boat  is  apt  to  do,  at  each  jerk  of  the  oars,  under  the  notion  it 
helps  the  party  along.  Diogenes  actually  called  out,  and  this  a 
dozen  times  at  least,  to  encourage  the  men  to  pull  for  their 
lives,  though  they  were  not  yet  within  a  mile  of  us.  The  con 
stant  rising  and  setting  of  the  boats  prevented  my  making  very 
minute  observations  with  the  glass ;  but  I  distinguished  the  face 
of  my  second  mate,  who  was  sitting  aft,  and  I  could  see  he  was 
steering  with  one  hand  and  baling  with  the  other.  We  now 
waved  our  hats  in  hopes  of  being  seen,  but  got  no  answering 
signal,  the  distance  being  still  too  great. 

At  that  moment  I  cared  nothing  for  the  guns  of  the  English 
ship,  though  we  were  running  directly  for  them.  The  boat — 
the  boat  was  our  object !  For  that  we  steered  as  unerringly  as 
the  motion  of  the  rolling  water  would  allow.  It  blew  a  good 
working  breeze ;  and,  what  was  of  the  last  importance  to  us,  it 
blew  steadily.  1  fancied  the  ship  did  not  move,  notwithstand 
ing,  though  the  rate  at  which  we  drew  nearer  to  the  boat  ought 
to  have  told  us  better.  But  anxiety  had  taken  the  place  of 
icason,  and  we  were  all  disposed  to  see  things  as  we  felt,  rather 
than  as  we  truly  found  them. 

There  was  abundant  reason  for  uneasiness,  the  cutter  astern 
certainly  going  through  the  water  four  feet  to  the  other's  three. 
Mannea  with  her  regular  crew,  with  every  thing  in  order,  and 
with  men  accustomed  to  pull  together,  the  largest  boat,  and 
rowing  ten  oars  to  the  six  of  my  mate's,  T  make  no  doubt  that 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  293 

the  cutter  of  the  Black  Prince  would  have  beaten  materially. in 
an  ordinary  race,  more  especially  in  the  rough  water  over  which 
this  contest  occurred.  But,  nearly  a  tenth  full  of  water,  the 
boat  of  the  fugitives  had  a  greatly  lessened  chance  of  escape. 

Of  course,  we  then  knew  no  more  than  we  could  see,  and  we 
were  not  slow  to  perceive  how  fast  the  pursuers  were  gaining  on 
the  pursued.  I  really  began  to  tremble  for  the  result ;  and  this 
so  much  the  more,  as  the  larger  cutter  was  near  enough  by  this 
time  to  permit  me  to  discover,  by  means  of  the  glass,  the  ends 
of  several  muskets  rising  out  of  her-  stern-sheets.  Could  she 
get  near  enough  for  her  officers  to  use  these  weapons,  the  chance 
of  our  people  was  gone,  since  it  was  not  to  be  even  hoped  they 
had  any  arms. 

The  end  approached.  The  Dawn  had  got  good  way  on  her, 
Marble  and  Diogenes  having  dragged  down  the  main-topgallant- 
sheets  and  hoisted  the  sail.  The  water  foamed  under  our  bows, 
and  the  boat  was  soon  so  near  it  became  indispensable  to  haul 
our  wind.  This  we  did  with  the  ship's  head  to  the  westward, 
without  touching  a  brace,  though  we  luffed  sufficiently  to  throw 
the  wind  out  of  all  the  square  sails.  The  last  was  done  to  deaden 
the  vessel's  way,  in  order  that  the  fugitives  might  reach  her. 

The  struggle  became  frightful  for  its  intenseness.  Our  men 
were  so  near  we  could  recognize  them  without  the  aid  of  a  glass ; 
with  it,  I  could  read  the  glowing  anxiety  that  was  in  my  second 
mate's  countenance.  Each  instant  the  puruscrs  closed,  until 
they  were  actually  much  nearer  to  the  pursued  than  the  latter 
were  to  the  Dawn.  For  the  first  time,  now,  I  suspected  the 
truth,  by  the  heavy  movement  of  the  flying  cutter,  and  the 
water  that  the  second  mate  was  constantly  baling  out  of  her, 
using  his  hat.  Marble  brought  up  the  muskets  left  by  the  pri- 
vatcersmen,  and  began  to  renew  their  primings.  He  wished  to 
fire  at  once  on  the  pursuing  boat — she  being  within  range  of  a 
bullet,  but  this  I  knew  Avould  not  be  legal.  I  promised  to  use 
them  should  the  English  attempt  to  board  the  ship,  but  did  not 
dare  to  anticipate  that  movement. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  boats,  the  chasing  gaining  always 


294  MILES      AVALLINGFORD. 

on  the  chased ;  and  now  the  Black  Prince  and  Jie  Speedy  each 
threw  a  shot  quite  over  us.  We  were  about  a  mile  from  the 
three  frigates,  rather  increasing  than  lessening  that  distance, 
however,  as  they  drifted  to  leeward,  while  we  were  slightly  ] lift 
ing,  with  our  yards  a  little  braced  up,  the  leeches  lifting.  Neb 
steered  the  ship  as  one  Avould  have  guided  a  pilot-boat.  He  had 
an  eye  for  the  boats  as  well  as  for  the  sails — knew  all  that  was 
wanted,  and  all  that  was  to  be  done.  I  never  saw  him  tonch  a 
wheel  with  so  delicate  a  hand,  or  one  that  better  did  its  duty. 
The  Dawn's  way  was  so  much  deadened  as  to  give  the  fugitives 
every  opportunity  to  close,  while  she  was  steadily  coming  up 
abreast  of  their  course  in  readiness  to  meet  them. 

At  this  instant,  the  officer  in  the  Black  Prince's  cutter  fired 
into  that  of  the  Speedy  ;  and  one  of  our  men  suddenly  dropped 
his  oar.  He  was  hit.  I  thought  the  poor  fellow's  arm  Avas 
broken,  for  I  could  see"  him  lay  a  hand  on  the  injured  part,  like 
a  man  who  suffered  pain.  lie  instantly  changed  places  with  the 
second  mate,  who,  however,  seized  his  oar,  and  began  to  use  it, 
with  great  power.  Three  more  muskets  were  fired,  seemingly 
without  doing  any  harm.  But  the  leading  boat  lost  by  this 
delay,  while  its  pursuers  held  steadily  on.  Our  own  people 
were  within  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  us — the  English  less 
than  twenty  behind  them.  Why  the  latter  did  not  now  fire,  I 
do  not  actually  know ;  but  I  suppose  it  to  be,  because  their 
muskets  were  all  discharged,  and  the  race  was  now  too  sharp  to 
allow  their  officer  to  reload.  Possibly  he  did  not  Avish  to  take 
life  unnecessarily,  the  chances  fast  turning  to  his  sk  e. 

I  called  out  to  Marble  to  stand  by  Avith  a  rope.  The  ship 
Avas  sloAvly  draAviug  ahead,  and  there  Avas  no  time  to  be  lost.  I 
then  shouted  to  my  second  mate  to  be  of  good  heart,  and  he 
ansAverei  Avith  a  cheer.  The  English  hurrahed,  and  AVC  sent 
back  the  cry  from  the  ship. 

"Stand  by  in  the  boat,  for  the  rope!"  I  cried.  "Heave, 
Moses — heave !" 

Marble  hove  from  the  mizzen-chains,  the  rope  was  caught, 
and  a  motion  of  my  hand  told  Neb  to  keep  the  ship  off",  until 


MILES      WALLINGFORD. 


every  thing  drew.  This  Avas  done,  and  the  rattling  of  the 
clew-garnet  blocks  announced  that  Diogenes  was  hauling  down 
the  main-tack  with  the  strength  of  a  giant.  The  sail  opened, 
and  Moses  and  I  hauled  in  the  sheet,  until  the  ship  felt  the 
enormous  additional  pressure  of  this  broad  breadth  of  canvas. 
At  this  instant  there  was  a  cheer  from  the  boat.  Leaping  upon 
the  taffrail,  I  saw  the  men  erect,  waving  their  hats,  and  looking 
toward  the  pursuing  cutter,  then  within  a  hundred  feet  of  them, 
vainly  attempting  to  come  up  with  a  boat  that  was  now  drag 
ging  nearly  bows  under,  and  feeling  all  the  strength  of  our  tow. 
The  officer  cheered  his  men  to  renewed  exertion,  and  he  began 
to  load  a  musket.  At  this  moment  the  tow-line  slipped  from 
the  thwart  of  the  boat,  and  we  shot  away,  as  it  seemed  to  me, 
a  hundred  feet,  on  the  send  of  the  very  next  sea.  There  was 
not  time  for  the  Americans  to  get  seated  at  their  oars  again, 
before  the  other  cutter  grappled.  All  that  had  been  gained  was 
lost,  and,  after  so  near  and  close  a  chance  of  recovering  the  most 
valuable  portion  of  my  crew,  was  I  again  left  on  the  ocean  with 
the  old  four  to  manage  the  Dawn  ! 

The  English  lieutenant  knew  his  business  too  well,  to  aban 
don  the  ship  while  there  was  a  chance  of  recovering  her.  The 
wind  lulled  a  little,  and  he  thought  the  hope  of  success  worth 
an  effort.  Merely  taking  all  the  oarg  out  of  the  Spcedy's  cut 
ter,  he  dashed  on  in  our  wake.  At  first  he  gained,  nor  was  I  un 
willing  he  should,  for  I  wished  to  speak  him.  The  main  and 
fore-sheets  were  eased  off,  and  Neb  was  told  to  keep  the  topsails 
lifting.  Thus  favored,  he  soon  got  within  fifty  yards  of  us, 
straining  every  nerve  to  get  nearer.  The  officer  pointed  a  mus 
ket  at  me,  and  ordered  me  to  heave-to.  I  jumped  off  the  taff 
rail,  and,  with  my  body  covered  to  the  shoulders,  pointed  one 
of  the  French  muskets  at  him,  and  warned  him  to  keep  off. 

"  What  have  you  done  with  the  prize  crew  put  on  board  you 
from  the  Speedy,  the  other  day  ?"  called  out  the  lieutenant. 

"  Sent  them  adrift,"  I  answered.  "  We've  had  enough  of 
prize  crews  in  this  ship,  and  want  no  more." 

"  TIeave-to,  sir,  on  the  pain  of  being  treated  as  a  pirate,  also." 


290  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  Ay,  ay,"  slioutcd  Marble,  who  could  keep  silent  no  longer, 
"  first  catch  a  pirate.  Fire,  if  you  are  tired  of  your  cruise.  1 
wish  them  bloody  Frenchmen  had  stopped  all  your  grog !" 

This  was  neither  dignified  nor  politic,  and  I  ordered  my  mate 
to  be  silent.  In  a  good-natured  tone  I  inquired  for  the  names 
of  the  late  combatants,  and  the  losses  of  the  different  ships,  but 
this  was  too  cool  for  our  pursuer's  humor,  and  I  got  no  answer. 
lie  did  not  dare  fire,  however,  finding  we  were  armed,  and,  as  I 
supposed,  seeing  there  was  no  prospect  of  his  getting  easily  on 
board  us,  even  should  he  get  alongside,  he  gave  up  the  chase, 
returning  to  the  captured  boat.  We  again  filled  and  trimmed 
every  thing,  and  went  dashing  through  the  water  at  the  rate  of 
seven  knots. 

The  frigates  did  not  fire  at  us,  after  the  guns  already  men 
tioned.  Why,  I  cannot  positively  say ;  but  I  thought,  at  the 
time,  that  they  had  too  many  other  things  to  attend  to,  besides 
seeing  the  little  chance  there  was  of  overtaking  us,  should  they 
even  happen  to  cripple  a  spar  or  two. 

Great  was  the  disappointment  on  board  the  Dawn,  at  the 
result  of  the  final  incidents  of  this  eventful  day.  Marble  swore 
outright;  for  no  remonstrance  of  mine  could  cure  him  of  in 
dulging  in  this  habit,  especially  when  a  little  excited.  Diogenes 
grinned  defiance,  and  fairly  shook  his  fists  at  the  boat;  while 
Neb  laughed  and  half  cried  in  a  breath — the  sure  sign  the  fel 
low's  feelings  were  keenly  aroused. 

As  for  myself,  I  felt  as  much  as  any  of  the  party,  but  pre 
served  more  self-command.  I  saw  it  was  now  necessary  to  quit 
that  vicinity,  and  to  take  some  definite  steps  for  the  preserva 
tion  of  my  own  ship  and  property.  There  was  little  to  appre 
hend,  however,  from,  the  frigates,  unless  indeed  it  should  fall 
calm.  In  the  latter  case,  they  might  board  us  with  their  boats, 
which  an  hour  or  two's  work  would  probably  enable  them  to 
use  again.  But  I  had  no  intention  of  remaining  in  their  neigh 
borhood,  being  desirous  of  profiting  by  the  present  wind. 

The  sails  were  trimmed  accordingly,  and  the  ship  was  steered 
north-westerly,  on  a  course  that  took  us  past  the  three  vessels- 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  297 

of-war,  giving  them  so  wide  a  berth  as  to  avoid  all  danger  from 
their  batteries.  As  soon  as  this  was  done,  and  the  Dawn  was 
travelling  her  road  at  a  good  rate,  I  beckoned  to  Marble  to  come 
near  the  wheel,  for  I  had  taken  the  helmsman's  duty  on  myself 
for  an  hour  or  two :  in  other  words,  I  was  doing  that  which, 
from  my  boyish  experience  on  the  Hudson,  I  had  once  fancied 
it  was  not  only  the  duty,  but  the  pleasure,  of  every  shipmaster 
to  do,  viz.,  steering !  Little  did  I  understand,  before  practice 
taught  me  the  lesson,  that  of  all  the  work  on  board  ship,  which 
Jack  is  required  to  do,  his  trick  at  the  wheel  is  that  which  he 
least  covets,  unless  indeed  it  may  be  the  office  of  stowing  the 
jib  in  heavy  weather. 

"  Well,  Moses,"  I  began,  "  this  affair  is  over,  and  we've  the 
Atlantic  before  us  again,  with  all  the  ports  of  Europe  to  select 
from,  and  a  captain,  one  mate,  the  cook,  and  one  man  to  cany 
the  ship  where  we  please  to  take  her." 

"Ay,  ay — 't  has  been  a  bad  job,  this  last.  I  was  as  sure  of 
them  lads,  until  the  lieutenant  fired  his  musket,  as  ever  I  Avas 
of  a  good  landfall  with  a  fair  wind.  I  can't  describe  to  you, 
Miles,  the  natur'  of  the  disapp'intment  I  felt,  when  I  saw  'em 
give  up.  I  can  best  compare  it  to  that  which  came  over  me 
when  I  discovered  I  was  nothing  but  a  bloody  hermit,  after  all 
my  generalizing  about  being  a  governor  and  a  lord  high  admiral 
of  an  island,  all  to  myself,  as  it  might  be." 

"  It  can't  be  helped,  and  we  must  take  things  as  we  find  them. 
The  question  is,  what  is  to  be  done  with  the  ship  ?  Should  we 
venture  into  the  Channel,  yonder  chaps  will  be  after  us  with  the 
news  of  a  Yankee,  on  board  of  whom  they  put  a  prize  crew, 
being  adrift  without  the  men ;  and  there  are  fifty  cruisers  ready 
to  pick  us  up.  The  news  will  spread  all  over  the  Channel  in  a 
week,  and  our  chances  of  getting  through  the  Straits  of  Dover 
will  be  so  small  as  not  to  be  worth  naming ;  nay,  these  fellows 
-.vill  soon  repair  damages,  and  might  possibly  overtake  us  them 
selves.  The  Speedy  is  only  half  crippled." 

"  I  see — I  see.  You've  a  trick  with  you,  Miles,  that  makes  a 
Tew  words  go  a  great  way.  I  see,  and  I  agree.  But  an  idee 


298  MILES      W  ALL  IN  G  FO  IID. 

has  come  to  my  mind,  that  you're  welcome  to,  and  after  turning 
it  over,  do  what  you  please  with  it.  Instead  of  going  to  the 
eastward  of  Scilly,  what  say  you  to  passing  to  the  westward, 
and  shaping  our  course  for  the  Irish  Channel  ?  The  news  will 
not  follow  us  that-a-way,  for  some  time ;  and  we  may  meet  with 
some  American,  or  other,  bound  to  Liverpool.  Should  the 
worst  come  to  the  worst,  we  can  pass  through  between  Ireland 
and  Scotland,  and  work  our  way  round  Cape  Wrath,  and  go 
into  our  port  of  destination.  It  is  a  long  road,  I  know,  and  a 
hard  one  in  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  but  it  may  be  travelled 
in  midsummer,  comfortably  enough." 

"  I  like  your  notion  well  enough,  Marble,  and  am  ready  to 
carry  it  out,  as  far  as  we  are  able.  It  must  be  a  hard  fortune, 
indeed,  that  will  not  throw  us  in  the  way  of  some  fisherman,  or 
coaster,  who  will  be  willing  to  let  us  have  a  hand  or  two,  for 
double  wages." 

"  Why,  on  that  p'int,  Miles,  the  difficulty  is  in  the  war,  and 
the  hot  press  that  must  now  be  going.  The  English  will  be  shy 
in  visiting  the  opposite  coast ;  and  good  men  arc  hard  to  find, 
just  now,  I'm  thinking,  floating  about  the  coast  of  England,  un 
less  they  are  under  a  pennant." 

u  A  hand,  or  two,  that  can  steer,  will  be  an  immense  relief 
to  us,  Moses,  even  though  unable  to  go  aloft.  Call  Neb  to 
the  Avheel,  then,  and  we'll  go  look  at  the  chart,  so  as  to  lay  our 
course." 

All  was  done,  accordingly.  In  half  an  hour,  the  Dawn  was 
steering  for  the  western  coast  of  England,  with  every  thing  set 
we  thought  it  prudent  to  carry.  Two  hours  after  we  began  to 
move  away  from  the  spot  where  they  lay,  the  frigates  had  sunk 
behind  the  curvature  of  the  earth,  and  we  lost  sight  of  them  al 
together.  The  weather  continued  good,  the  breeze  steady  and 
fresh,  and  the  Dawn  did  her  duty  admirably.  We  began  to 
get  accustomed  to  our  situations,  and  found  them  less  arduous 
than  had  been  apprehended.  The  direction  of  the  wind  was  so 
favorable,  that  it  kept  hope  alive ;  though  we  trebled  our  dis 
tance  by  going  round  the  British  islands,  instead  of  passing 


MIL  S3     WALLINGFORD.  299 

directly  up  Channel.  Twenty-four  hours  were  necessary  to  car 
ry  us  as  far  north  as  the  Land's  End,  however ;  and  I  deter 
mined  to  be  then  governed  by  circumstances.  Should  the  wind 
shift,  we  always  had  the  direct  route  before  us  ;  and  I  had  my 
doubts  whether  putting  a  bold  face  on  the  matter,  running  close 
in  with  the  English  shore,  and  appearing  to  be  bound  for  Lon 
don,  were  not  the  wisest  course.  There  certainly  was  the  dan 
ger  of  the  Speedy's  telling  our  story,  in  which  case  there  would 
bo  a  sharp  look-out  for  us ;  while  there  was  the  equal  chance 
that  she  might  speak  nothing  for  a  week.  Eight-and-forty 
hours  ahead  of  her,  I  should  not  have  feared  much  from  her 
account  of  us. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  minutely  on  the  events  of  the  next 
few  days.  The  weather  continued  good,  the  wind  fair ;  and 
our  progress  was  in  proportion.  We  saw  nothing  until  AVC  got 
within  two  leagues  of  Scilly  light,  when  we  were  boarded  by 
a  pilot-boat  out  from  those  islands.  This  occurred  at  sunrise, 
with  the  wind  light  at  north-east,  and  one  sail  in  sight  to  wind 
ward,  that  had  the  appearance  of  a  brig-of-war,  though  she  was 
still  hull  down,  and  not  heading  for  us. 

I  saw  that  the  smallness  of  our  crew,  and  the  course  we  were 
steering,  struck  these  pilots,  the  moment  they  had  time  to  ascer 
tain  the  first  fact.  It  was  not  usual,  in  that  day,  nor  do  I  sup 
pose  it  is  now,  for  deep-laden  Americans  to  pass  so  near  Eng 
land,  coming  from  the  south-east  and  steering  to  the  north-west. 
A  remark  to  this  effect  fell  from  the  mouth  of  the  principal 
pilot,  as  soon  as  I  told  him  I  did  not  wish  to  go  in  to  any  of  the 
neighboring  ports. 

"  I  am  short  of  hands,  and  am  desirous  of  obtaining  three 
or  four  good  men,"  I  said,  "  who  shall  be  Avcll  paid  for  their 
services,  and  sent  back,  without  cost,  to  the  place  whence  they 
came." 

"  Ay,  I  see  you've  a  small  crew  for  so  stout  a  craft,  master," 
the  pilot  answered.  li  May  I  ask  what  has  happened  to  bring 
you  down  so  low  ?" 

"  Why,  you  know  how  it  is  among  your  cruisers,  in  war-time 


300  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

— an  English  frigate  carried  away  all  hands,  with  the  exception 
of  these  you  see." 

Now,  this  was  true  to  the  ear,  at  least,  though  I  saw,  plainly 
enough,  that  I  was  not  believed. 

"  It's  not  often  his  Majesty's  officers  shave  so  close,"  the  pilot 
answered,  with  a  sort  of  sneer  I  did  not  like.  "  They  common 
ly  send  in  hands  with  a  ship,  when  they  find  it  necessary  to  take 
her  own  men." 

"  Ay,  I  suppose  the  laws  require  this  with  English  vessels ; 
with  Americans  they  are  less  particular ;  at  all  events,  you  see 
the  whole  of  us,  and  I  should  be  very  glad  to  get  a  hand  or  two, 
if  possible,  out  of  your  cutter." 

"  Where  are  you  bound,  master  ?  Before  we  ship,  we'd  like 
to  know  the  port  we  sail  for." 

"  Hamburg." 

"  Hamburg !  Why,  master,  you're  not  heading  for  Ham 
burg,  at  all,  which  lies  up  the  English,  not  up  the  Irish  Chan 
nel." 

"  I  am  well  aware  of  all  that.  But  I  am  afraid  to  go  into  the 
English  Channel  so  short-handed.  Those  narrow  waters  give  a 
man  trouble,  unless  he  has  a  full  crew." 

"  The  Channel  is  a  good  place  to  find  men,  master.  How 
ever,  none  of  us  can  go  with  you,  and  no  words  be  necessary. 
As  you've  no  occasion  for  a  pilot,  we  must  be  off  a'tcr  some- 
tiling  else." 

The  fellow  now  left  me,  without  more  words,  and  I  saw  there 
was  no  use  in  attempting  to  detain  him.  He  had  got  a  league 
from  us,  and  we  were  jogging  on  our  course,  before  we  discov 
ered  he  was  making  signals  to  the  brig,  which  had  kept  dead 
away,  and  had  set  studding-sails  on  both  sides.  As  this  was 
carrying  much  more  sail  than  we  could  venture  to  show,  I 
thought  our  chance  of  escape  small,  indeed.  There  was  the 
whole  day  before  us,  with  a  light,  and,  doubtless,  fast-sailing 
cruiser  in  chase  of  a  heavily-loaded  merchantman.  As  a  stern 
chase  is,  proverbially,  a  long  chase,  however,  I  determined  to  do 
all  we  could  to  avoid  the  gentleman.  Sail  was  made,  according- 


MILES     AVALUXGFORD.  301 

Iy,  so  far  as  we  dared,  and  the  ship  was  steered  a  little  oil,  as 
her  best  mode  of  sailing  in  her  present  trim.  We  saw  the  brig 
speak  the  pilot-boat,  and,  from  that  moment,  were  certain  her 
commander  had  all  the  conjectures  of  the  Scilly  man  added  to 
his  own.  The  effect  was  soon  to  be  noted,  for  when  the  two 
separated,  the  cutter  stood  in  for  her  own  rocks,  Avhile  the  brig 
renewed  her  chase. 

That  was  an  uneasy  day.  The  man-of-war  gained,  but  it  was 
quite  slowly.  She  might  beat  us  by  a  knot  in  the  hour,  and, 
being  ten  miles  astern,  there  was  still  the  hope  of  its  falling  dark 
before  she  could  close.  The  wind,  too,  was  unsteady,  and  toward 
noon  it  grew  so  light,  as  to  reduce  both  vessels  4o  only  two  or 
three  knot's  way.  Of  course,  this  greatly  lessened  the  differ 
ence  in  our  rate  of  sailing,  and  I  had  now  strong  hopes  that 
night  might  come  before  our  pursuers  could  close. 

Nor  was  I  disappointed.  The  wind  continued  light  until 
sunset,  Avhen  it  came  out  a  fine  breeze  at  north-west,  bringing 
us  dead  to  windward  of  the  brig,  which  was  then  distant  some 
six  miles.  We  got  the  proper  sail  on  the  ship  as  fast  as  we 
could,  though  the  cruiser  was  dashing  ahead  under  every  thing 
she  could  carry,  long  before  we  could  get  through  with  the  neces 
sary  work.  When  we  did  get  at  it,  notwithstanding,  I  found  she 
had  not  much  the  advantage  of  us,  and  now  began  to  entertain 
some  hopes  of  shaking  her  off  in  the  course  of  the  night.  Mar 
ble  was  confident  of  it,  and  his  confidence,  on  points  of  seaman 
ship,  was  always  entitled  to  respect. 

About  ten,  both  vessels  were  on  the  starboard  tack,  standing 
to  the  southward  and  westward,  or  out  toward  the  broad  Atlan 
tic,  with  the  brig  about  a  league  under  the  Dawn's  lee,  and  a 
little  forward  of  her  beam.  This  was  the  most  favorable  posi 
tion  for  us  to  be  in,  in  order  to  effect  our  purpose,  since  the 
cruiser  had  already  passed  her  nearest  point  to  us,  on  that  tack. 
The  horizon  to  windward,  and  all  along  the  margin  of  the  sea  at 
the  northward,  was  covered  with  clouds,  which  threatened,  by 
the  way,  a  capful  of  wind.  This  dark  background  would  be 
likely  to  prevent  our  being  seen;  and  the  instant  the  night  shut 


302  MILES      WALLI'NGFORD. 

in  the  outline  of  the  brig's  canvas,  I  ordered  our  helm  put 
down. 

It  was  lively  business,  tacking  such  a  ship  as  the  DaAvn,  under 
so  much  canvas,  and  in  such  a  breeze,  with  four  men !  The 
helm  was  lashed  hard  down,  and  at  it  we  went,  like  so  many 
tigers.  The  after-yards  swung  themselves,  though  the  main- 
tack  and  sheet  gave  us  a  good  deal  of  trouble.  We  braced 
every  thing  aft  sharp  up  before  we  left  it,  having  first  managed 
to  get  the  fore-yard  square.  When  this  was  done,  we  filled  all 
forward,  and  dragged  the  yards  and  bowlines  to  their  places 
with  a  will  that  seemed  irresistible. 

There  were  «o  means  of  knowing  whether  the  brig  came 
round  about  this  time  or  not.  Agreeably  to  the  rule  of  chasing, 
she  should  have  tacked  when  directly  abeam,  unless  she  fancied 
she  could  eat  us  out  of  the  wind  by  standing  on.  We  knew 
she  did  hot  tack  when  directly  abeam,  but  we  could  not  sec 
whether  she  came  round  after  us,  or  not.  At  all  events,  tack  or 
not,  she  must  still  be  near  a  league  under  our  lee,  and  we 
drove  on  toward  the  English  coast  until  the  day  reappeared,  not 
a  man  of  us  all  sleeping  a  wink  that  night.  How  anxiously  AVO 
watched  the  ocean  astern,  and  to  leeward,  as  the  returning  light 
slowly  raised  the  veil  of  obscurity  from  before  us !  Nothing 
was  in  sight,  even  when  the  sun  appeared,  to  bathe  the  entire 
ocean  in  a  flood  of  glory.  Not  even  a  white  speck  in-shore  ; 
and  as  for  the  brig,  we  never  saw  or  heard  more  of  her.  Doubt 
less  she  stood  on,  on  the  old  course,  hoping  gradually  to  close 
with  us,  or  to  draw  so  far  ahead  and  to  windward,  as  to  make 
certain  of  her  prey  in  the  morning. 

According  to  our  reckoning,  the  ship  was  now  heading  well 
up  toward  the  coast  of  Wales,  which  we  might  expect  to  make 
in  the  course  of  the  next  four-and-twenty  hours,  should  the  wind 
stand.  I  determined,  therefore,  to  make  the  best  of  the  matter, 
and  to  go  directly  up  the  Irish  Channel,  hoping  to  fall  in  with 
some  boat  from  the  north  shore,  that  might  not  have  as  apt 
intellects  on  board  it  as  those  of  our  Scilly  pilot  had  proved  to 
be.  We  stood  on,  consequently,  all  that  day,  and  another  sun 


MILES     WALLINGFOKD.  ."03 

set  without  our  making  the  land.  We  saw  several  vessels  at 
a  distance  in  the  afternoon,  but  we  were  now  in  a  part  of  the 
ocean  where  an  American  ship  would  be  as  little  likely  to  be 
disturbed  as  in  any  I  know.  It  was  the  regular  track  of  ves 
sels  bound  to  Liverpool,  and  these  last  were  as  little  molested 
as  the  want  of  men  would  at  all  permit.  Could  we  get  past 
that  port,  AVC  should  then  be  in  the  way  of  picking  up  half  a 
dozen  Irishmen. 


HOI  MILES     \VALLINGFORD. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

"  Och !  botheration — 'tis  a  beautiful  coost 
All  made  up  of  rocks  and  deep  bays ; 
Ye  may  sail  up  and  down,  a  marvellous  host, 
And  admire  all  its  beautiful  ways." 

IKISII  SONG. 

LITTLE  did  we,  or  could  we,  anticipate  all  that  lay  before  us. 
The  wind  held  at  north-west  until  the  ship  had  got  witliin  twenty 
miles  of  the  Welsh  coast ;  then  it  came  out  light  again  at  the 
southward.  We  were  now  so  near  Liverpool  that  I  expected 
every  hour  to  make  some  American  bound  in.  None  was  seen, 
notwithstanding,  and  we  stood  up  channel,  edging  over  toward 
the  Irish  coast  at  the  same  time,  determined  to  work  our  way 
to  the  northward  as  well  as  we  could.  This  sort  of  weather 
continued  for  two  days  and  nights,  during  which  we  managed 
to  get  up  as  high  as  Whitehaven,  when  the  wind  came  dead 
ahead,  blowing  a  stiff  breeze.  I  foresaw  from  the  commence 
ment  of  this  new  wind,  that  it  would  probably  drive  us  down 
channel,  and  out  into  the  Atlantic  once  more,  unless  we  could  an 
chor.  I  thought  I  would  attempt  the  last  somewhere  under  the 
Irish  coast,  in  the  hope  of  getting  some  assistance  from  among 
the  children  of  St.  Patrick.  We  all  knew  that  Irish  sailors,  half 
the  time,  were  not  very  well  trained,  but  any  thing  that  could 
pull  and  haul  would  be  invaluable  to  us  in  heavy  weather.  We 
had  now  been  more  than  a  week,  four  of  us  in  all,  Avorking  the 
ship,  and  instead  of  being  in  the  least  fagged,  we  had  rather 
got  settled  into  our  places,  as  it  might  be,  getting  along  with 
out  much  trouble ;  still  there  were  moments  when  a  little  extra 
force  would  be  of  great  moment  to  us,  and  I  could  see  by  the 
angry  look  of  the.  skies  that  these  moments  were  likely  to  in- 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  305 

crease  in  frequency  and  in  the  magnitude  of  their  importance 
to  us. 

The  waters  we  were  in  Avere  so  narrow  that  it  was  not  long 
before  we  drew  close  in  with  the  Irish  coast.  Here,  to  my  great 
joy,  we  saw  a  large  fishing-boat,  well  out  in  the  offing,  and  un 
der  circumstances  that  rendered  it  easy  for  those  in  it  to  run 
close  under  our  Ice.  We  made  a  signal,  therefore,  and  soon 
had  the  strangers  lying-to,  in  the  smooth  water  we  made  for 
them,  Avith  our  own  main-yard  aback.  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  say  that  we  had  gradually  diminished  our  own  canvas,  as  it 
became  necessary,  until  the  ship  was  under  double-reefed  top 
sails,  the  fore-course,  jib,  and  spanker.  We  had  brought  the 
topsails  down  lower  than  was  necessary,  in  order  to  anticipate 
the  time  when  it  might  be  indispensable. 

The  first  of  the  men  who  came  on  board  us  was  named  Ter 
ence  0'  something.  His  countenance  was  the  droll  medley  of 
fun,  shrewdness,  and  blundering,  that  is  so  often  found  in  the 
Irish  peasant,  and  which  appears  to  be  characteristic  of  entire 
races  in  the  island. 

"  A  fine  marnin',  yer  honor,"  he  began,  with  a  self-possession 
that  nothing  could  disturb,  though  it  was  some  time  past  noon, 
and  the  day  was  any  thing  but  such  a  one  as  a  seaman  likes. 
"  A  fine  marnin',  yer  honor,  and  as  fine  a  ship !  Is  it  fish  that 
yer  honor  will  be  asking  for  £" 

"  I  will  take  some  of  your  fish,  my  friend,  and  pay  you  well 
for  them." 

"  Long  life  to  yees !" 

"  I  was  about  to  say,  I  will  pay  you  much  better  if  you  can 
show  me  any  lee,  hereabouts,  which  has  good  holding-ground, 
where  a  ship  might  ride  out  the  gale  that  is  coming." 

"  Shure,  yer  honor ! — will  I  not  ?  Shure,  there's  nivver  the 
lad  on  the  3oost  that  knows  betther  what  it  is  yer  honor  wants, 
or  who'll  supply  yees,  with  half  the  good  will." 

"  Of  course  you  know  the  coast ;  probably  were  born  here 
abouts  2" 

"  Of  coorse,  is  it  ?     Whereabouts  should  Terence  0'  some- 


306  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

thing  be  born,  if  it's  not  hereabouts  ?  Is  it  know  the  coost, 
too  ?  Ah !  we're  ould  acquaintances." 

"  And  where  do  you  intend  to  take  the  ship,  Terence  ?" 

"  It's  houlding-ground  yer  honor  asked  for  ?" 

"  Certainly.     A  bottom  on  which  an  anchor  will  not  drag." 

"  Och !  is  it  that  ?  Well,  all  the  bottom  in  this  counthry  is 
of  that  same  nattir'.  None  of  it  will  drag,  without  pulling  mighty 
hard.  I'll  swear  to  any  part  of  it." 

"  You  surely  would  not  think  of  anchoring  a  ship  out  here,  a 
league  from  the  land,  with  nothing  to  break  either  wind  or  sea, 
and  a  gale  commencing  ?" 

"  I  anchor !  Divil  the  bit  did  I  ever  anchor  a  ship,  or  a  brig, 
or  even  a  cutther.  I've  not  got  so  high  up  as  that,  yer  honor : 
but  yon's  ould  Michael  Sweeny,  now ;  many's  the  anchor  he's 
cast  out,  miles  at  a  time,  sayin'  he's  been  a  sayman,  and  knows 
the  says  from  top  to  bottom.  It's  Michael  ye'll  want,  and  Michael 
ye  shall  have." 

Michael  was  spoken  to,  and  he  clambered  up  out  of  the  boat, 
as  well  as  he  could;  the  task  not  being  very  easy,  since  the 
fishermen  with  difficulty  kept  their  dull,  heavy  boat  out  of  our 
mizzen-chains.  In  the  mean  time,  Marble  and  I  found  time  to 
compare  notes.  We  agreed  that  Mr.  Terence  McScalc,  or  O' 
something — for  I  forget  the  fellow's  surname — would  probably 
turn  out  a  more  useful  man  in  hauling  in  mackerel  and  John 
Dorys,  than  in  helping  us  to  take  care  of  the  Dawn.  Nor  did 
Michael,  at  the  first  glance,  promise  any  thing  much  better. 
He  was  very  old — eighty,  I  should  think — and  appeared  to  have 
nullified  all  the  brains  he  ever  had,  by  the  constant  use  of 
whiskey ;  the  scent  of  which  accompanied  him  with  a  sort  of 
parasitical  odor,  as  that  of  tannin  attends  the  leather-dresser. 
He  was  not  drunk  just  then,  however,  but  seemed  cool  and  col 
lected.  I  explained  my  wishes  to  this  man ;  and  was  glad  to 
find  he  had  a  tolerable  notion  of  nautical  terms,  and  that  he 
would  not  be  likely  to  get  us  into  difficulty,  like  Terence,  through 
any  ignorance  on  this  score. 

"Is  it  anchor  ye  would,  yer  honor?"  answered  Michael,  when 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  807 

I  had  concluded.  "  Sure,  that's  aisy  enough,  and  the  saison  is 
good  for  that  same  ;  for  the  wind  is  getting  up  like  a  giant.  As 
for  the  guineas  yer  honor  mintions,  it's  of  no  avail  atween  fri'nds. 
I'll  take  'em,  to  obleege  ye,  if  ycr  honor  so  wills :  but  the  ship 
sliould  be  anchored  if  there  nivver  was  a  grain  of  goold  in  the 
wur-r-r-ld.  Would  ye  like  a  berth  pratty  well  out,  or  would  yer 
honor  choose  to  go  in  among  the  rocks,  and  lie  like  a  babby  in 
its  cradhle  ?" 

"  I  should  prefer  a  safe  roadstead,  to  venturing  too  far  in, 
Without  a  professed  pilot.  By  the  look  of  the  land  in-shore,  I 
should  think  it  would  be  easy  to  find  a  lee  against  this  wind, 
provided  we  can  get  good  holding-ground.  That  is  the  diffi 
culty  I  most  apprehend." 

"  Trust  ould  Ireland  for  that,  yer  honor ;  yes,  put  faith  in  us, 
for  that  same.  Ye've  only  to  fill  your  topsail,  and  stand  in ; 
ould  Michael  and  ould  Ireland  together,  will  take  care  of  yees." 

I  confess  I  greatly  disliked  the  aspect  of  things  in-shore,  with 
such  a  pilot ;  but  the  aspect  of  things  outside  was  still  worse. 
Short-handed  as  we  were,  it  would  be  impossible  to  keep  the 
ship  in  the  channel,  should  the  gale  come  on  as  heavily  as  it 
threatened ;  and  a  single  experiment  satisfied  me,  the  four  men 
in  the  boat  would  be  of  very  little  use  in  working  her ;  for  I 
never  saw  persons  who  knew  any  thing  of  the  water,  more  awk 
ward  than  they  turned  out  to  be  on  our  decks.  Michael  knew 
something,  it  is  true ;  but  he  was  too  old  to  turn  his  knowledge 
to  much  practical  account,  for  when  I  sent  him  to  the  wheel, 
Neb  had  to  remain  there  to  assist  him  in  steering.  There  Avas 
no  choice,  therefore,  and  I  determined  to  stand  close  in,  when, 
should  no  suitable  berth  offer,  it  would  always  be  in  our  power 
to  ware  off-shore.  The  fishing-boat  was  dropped  astern,  accord- 
ingty,  the  men  were  all  kept  in  the  ship,  and  we  stood  in  nearer  to 
the  coast ;  the  Dawn  bending  to  the  blasts,  under  the  sail  we  car 
ried,  in  a  way  to  render  it  difficult  to  stand  erect  on  her  decks. 

The  coast  promised  well  as  to  formation,  though  there  was 
much  to  apprehend  on  the  subject  of  the  bottom.  Among  rocks 
an  anchor  is  a  ticklish  thing  to  confide  in,  and  I  feared  it  might 


308  MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  0  R  D  . 

be  a  difficult  matter  to  find  a  proper  bottom,  as  far  out  as  1 
deemed  it  prudent  to  remain.  But  Michael,  and  Terence,  and 
Pat,  and  Murphy,  or  whatever  were  the  names  of  our  protesting 
confident  friends,  insisted  that  "  ould  Ireland"  would  never  foil 
us.  Marble  and  I  stood  on  the  forecastle,  watching  the  forma 
tion  of  the  coast,  and  making  our  comments,  as  the  ship  drove 
through  the  short  seas,  buried  to  her  figure-head.  At  length, 
we  thought  a  headland  that  was  discernible  a  little  under  our 
lee-bow,  looked  promising,  and  Michael  was  called  from  the 
wheel  and  questioned  concerning  it.  The  fellow  affirmed  he 
knew  the  place  well,  and  that  the  holding-ground  on  each  side 
of  it  was  excellent,  consenting  at  once  to  a  proposition  of  mine 
to  bring  up  under  its  lee.  We  edged  off,  therefore,  for  this 
point,  making  the  necessary  preparations  for  bringing  up. 

I  was  too  busy  in  getting  in  canvas  to  note  the  progress  of 
the  ship  for  the  next  twenty  minutes.  It  took  all  four  of  us  to 
stow  the  jib,  leaving  Michael  at  the  wheel  the  while.  And  a 
tremendous  job  it  was,  though  (I  say  it  in  humility)  four  better 
men  never  lay  out  on  a  spar,  than  those  who  set  about  the  task 
on  this  occasion.  We  got  it  in,  however,  but,  I  need  scarcely 
tell  the  seaman,  it  was  not  "  stowed  in  the  skin."  Marble  in 
sisted  on  leading  the  party,  and  never  before  had  I  seen  the  old 
fellow  Avork  as  he  did  on  that  day.  He  had  a  faculty  of  incor 
porating  his  body  and  limbs  with  the  wood  and  ropes,  standing, 
as  it  might  be,  on  air,  working  and  dragging  with  his  arms  and 
broad  shoulders,  in  a  way  that  appeared  to  give  him  just  as 
much  command  of  his  entire  strength,  as  another  man  would 
possess  on  the  ground. 

At  length  we  reduced  the  canvas  to  the  fore-topmast  staysail, 
and  main-topsail,  the  latter  double  reefed.  It  was  getting  to.  be 
time  that  the  last  should  be  close  reefed  (and  we  carried  four 
reefs  in  the  Dawn),  but  we  hoped  the  cloth  would  hold  out 
until  we  wanted  to  roll  it  up  altogether.  The  puffs,  however, 
began  to  come  gale-fashion,  and  I  foresaw  we  should  get  it  pres 
ently  in  a  style  that  would  require  good  looking  to. 

The  ship  soon  drove  within  the  extremity  of  the  headland, 


MILES      AVALLINGFORD.  3'J9 

the  lead  giving  us  forty  fathoms  of  water.  I  had  previously 
asked  Michael  what  water  we  might  expect,  but  this  he  frankly 
owned  he  could  not  tell.  He  was  certain  that  ships  sometimes 
anchored  there,  but  what  water  they  found  was  more  than  he 
knew.  He  was  no  conjuror,  and  guessing  might  be  dangerous, 
so  he  chose  to  say  nothing  about  it.  It  was  nervous  work  for 
a  shipmaster  to  carry  his  vessel  on  a  coast,  under  such  pilotage 
as  this.  I  certainly  would  have  wore  round  as  it  was,  were  it 
not  for  the  fact  that  there  was  a  clear  sea  to  leeward,  and  that  it 
would  always  be  as  easy  to  run  out  into  the  open  water,  as  the 
wind  was  at  that  moment. 

Marble  and  I  now  began  to  question  our  fisherman  as  to  the 
precise  point  where  he  intended  to  fetch  up.  Michael  was 
bothered,  and  it  was  plain  enough  his  knowledge  was  of  the 
most  general  character.  As  for  the  particulars  of  his  calling,  he 
treated  them  with  the  coolest  indifference.  He  had  been  much 
at  sea  in  his  younger  days,  it  is  true ;  but  it  was  in  ships-of- 
war,  where  the  ropes  were  put  into  his  hands  by  captains  of 
the  mast,  and  where  his  superiors  did  all  the  thinking.  He 
could  tell  whether  ships  did  or  did  not  anchor  near  a  particular 
spot,  but  he  knew  no  reason  for  the  one,  or  for  the  other.  In 
a  word,  he  had  just  that  sort  of  knowledge  of  seamanship  as 
one  gets  of  the  world  by  living  in  a  province,  where  we  all  learn 
the  leading  principles  of  humanity,  and  trust'  to  magazines  and 
works  of  fiction  for  the  finesse  of  life. 

The  lead  proved  a  better  guide  than  Michael,  and  seeing  some 
breakers  in-shore  of  us,  I  gave  the  order  to  clew  up  the  main- 
topsail,  and  to  luff  to  the  wind,  before  the  ship  should  lose  her 
way.  Our  Irishmen  pulled  and  hauled  well  enough,  as  soon  as 
they  were  directed  what  to  do ;  which  enabled  Marble  and  my 
self  each  to  stand  by  a  stopper.  We  had  previously  got  the 
two  bowers  a-cock-bill  (the  cables  were  bent  as  soon  as  we 
made  the  land) ;  and  nothing  remained  but  to  let  run.  Neb 
was  at  the  wheel,  with  orders  to  spring  to  the  cables  as  soon  as 
he  heard  them  running  out,  and  every  thing  was  in  readiness. 
I  shouted  the  order  to  "  let  run,"  and  down  both  our  anchors 


310  MILES      WALLINGFOIID. 

went,  at  the  same  instant,  in  twenty-two  fathoms  water.  The 
ship  took  cable  at  a  fearful  rate ;  but  Marble  and  Diogenes  being 
at  one  bower,  and  Neb  and  I  at  the  other,  we  succeeded  in 
snubbing  her,  with  something  like  twenty  fathoms  within  the 
hawse-holes.  There  was  a  minute,  when  I  thought  the  old  bark 
would  get  away  from  us ;  and  when,  by  desperate  efforts,  we 
did  succeed  in  checking  the  mass,  it  seemed  as  if  she  would 
shake  the  windlass  out  of  her.  No  time  was  lost  in  stopper 
ing  the  cables,  and  in  rolling  up  the  main -topsail. 

Michael  and  his  companions  now  came  to  wish  us  good  luck, 
get  the  guineas,  and  to  take  their  leave.  The  sea  was  already 
so  rough  that  the  only  mode  that  remained  of  getting  into  their 
boat  was  by  dropping  from  the  end  of  the  spanker-boom.  I 
endeavored  to  persuade  two  or  three  of  these  fellows  to  stick 
by  the  ship,  but  in  vain.  They  were  all  married,  and  they  had 
a  certain  protection  against  impressment  in  their  present  man 
ner  of  life ;  whereas,  should  they  be  found  at  large,  some  man- 
of-war  would  probably  pick  them  up,  and  Michael's  tales  of 
the  past  had  not  given  them  any  great  zest  for  the  sort  of  life 
he  described. 

When  these  Irish  fishermen  left  us  and  ran  in-shore,  we  were 
"thrown  again  altogether  on  our  own  resources.  I  had  explained 
to  Michael  our  want  of  hands,  however,  attributing  it  to  acci 
dents  and  impressments,  and  he  thought  he  could  persuade  four 
or  five  young  fellows  to  come  off,  as  soon  as  the  gale  abated,  on 
condition  we  would  take  them  to  America,  after  discharging  at 
Hamburg.  These  were  to  be  mere  peasants,  it  is  true,  for  sea 
men  were  scarce  in  that  part  of  the  world,  but  they  would  be 
better  than  nothing.  Half  a  dozen  athletic  young  Irishmen 
would  relieve  us  seamen  from  a  vast  deal  of  the  heavy,  lugging 
work  of  the  ship,  and  leave  us  strength  and  spirits  to  do  that 
which  unavoidably  fell  to  our  share.  With  the  understanding 
that  he  was  to  receive,  himself,  a  guinea  a  head  for  each  sound 
man  thus  brought  us,  we  parted  from  old  Michael,  who  probably 
nas  never  piloted  a  ship  since,  as  I  strongly  suspect  he  had  never 
'lone  before. 


MILES      WALLINGFOEB.  311 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

"The  power  of  God  is  everywhere, 

Pervades  all  Bpace  and  time; 
The  power  of  God  can  still  the  air, 

And  rules  in  every  clime ; — 
Then  bow  the  heart,  and  bend  the  knee, 
And  worship  o'er  both  land  and  sea." 

Duo. 

I  NEVER  knew  precisely  the  point  on  the  coast  of  Ireland, 
where  we  anchored.  It  was  somewhere  between  Strangford  and 
Dundrum  Bay,  though  the  name  of  the  headland  which  gave  us 
a  sort  of  protection  I  did  not  learn.  In  this  part  of  the  island 
the  coast  trends  north  and  south  generally,  though  at  the  place 
where  we  anchored  its  direction  was  nearly  from  north-north-east 
to  south-south-west,  which,  in  the  early  part  of  the  gale,  Avas  as 
close  as  might  be  the  course  in  which  the  wind  blew.  At  the 
moment  we  brought  up,  the  wind  had  hauled  a  little  farther  to 
the  northward,  giving  us  a  better  lee ;  but,  to  my  great  regret, 
Michael  had  scarcely  left  us  when  it  shifted  to  due  north-east, 
making  a  fair  rake  of  the  channel.  This  left  us  very  little  of  a 
lee — the  point  ahead  of  us  being  no  great  matter,  and  we  barely 
within  it.  I  consulted  such  maps  as  I  had,  and  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  we  were  off  the  county  Down,  a  part  of  the 
kingdom  that  Avas  at  least  civilized,  and  where  we  should  be  apt 
to  receive  good  treatment  in  the  event  of  being  wrecked.  Our 
fishermen  told  us  that  they  belonged  to  a  Bally-something,  but 
what  the  something  was  I  have  forgotten,  if  I  ever  understood 
them.  "  Told  us,"  I  say  out  of  complaisance,  but  "  tould" 
would  be  the  better  word,  as  all  they  uttered  savored  so  much 
of  the  brogue,  that  it  was  not  always  easy  to  get  at  their 
meaning, 


312  MIL  S3     WALLINGFORO. 

It  was  past  noon  when  the  Dawn  anchored,  and  the  wind  got 
more  to  the  eastward  about  half  an  hour  afterward.  It  was  out 
of  the  question  to  think  of  getting  under  way  again,  with  so 
strong  a  wind  and  with  our  feeble  crew.  Had  it  been  perfectly 
smooth  water,  and  had  there  been  neither  tide  nor  air,  it  would 
have  taken  us  half  a  day,  at  least,  to  get  our  two  bowers.  It 
was  folly,  therefore,  to  think  of  it,  situated  as  we  were.  It  only 
remained  to  ride  out  the  gale  in  the  best  manner  we  could. 

Nothing  occurred,  for  several  hours,  except  that  the  gale  in 
creased  sensibly  in  violence.  Like  an  active  disease,  it  was  fast 
coming  to  a  crisis.  Toward  sunset,  however,  a  little  incident 
took  place,  that  gave  me  great  uneasiness  of  itself,  though  I  had 
forebodings  of  evil  from  the  commencement  of  that  tempest. 
Two  sail  appeared  in  sight,  to  windward,  being  quite  near  us, 
close  in  with  the  Irish  coast,  before  either  was  observed  on 
board  the  Dawn.  The  leading  vessel  of  the  two  was  a  man-of- 
war  cutter,  running  nearly  before  it,  under  a  close-reefed  square- 
sail — canvas  so  low  that  it  might  easily  be  confounded  with  the 
foam  of  the  sea,  at  a  little  distance.  She  rounded  the  head 
land,  and  was  edging  away  from  the  coast,  apparently  for  sea- 
room,  when  she  took  a  sudden  sheer  in  our  direction.  As  if 
curious  to  ascertain  what  could  have  taken  so  large  a  square- 
rigged  vessel  as  the  Dawn,  into  her  present  berth,  this  cutter 
actually  ran  athwart  our  hawse,  passing  inside  of  us,  at  a  distance 
of  some  fifty  yards.  We  were  examined ;  but  no  attempt  was 
made  to  speak  us.  I  felt  no  uneasiness  at  the  proximity  of 
these  two  cruisers,  for  I  knew  a  boat  could  not  live — our  ship 
fairly  pitching  her  martingale  into  the  water  at  her  anchors. 

The  frigate  followed  the  cutter,  though  she  passed  us  outside, 
even,  nearer  than  her  consort.  I  got  my  first  accurate  notion 
of  the  weight  of  the  gale,  by  seeing  this  large  ship  drive  past 
us,  under  a  reefed  foresail,  and  a  close-reefed  main-topsail,  run 
ning  nearly  dead  before  it.  As  she  came  down,  she  took  a 
sheer,  like  a  vessel  scudding  in  the  open  ocean ;  and,  at  one  mo 
ment,  I  feared  she  would  plunge  directly  into  us,  though  sho 
minded  her  helm  in  time  to  clear  every  thing.  A  dozen  officers 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  313 

on  board  her  were  looking  at  us,  from  her  gangway,  her  quar 
ter-deck  guns,  and  rigging.  All  were  compelled  to  hold  on  with 
iirm  grasps ;  and  wonder  seemed  painted  in  every  comltenance. 
I  could  sec  their  features  for  half  a  minute  only,  or  even  a  less 
time  ;  but  I  could  discern  this  expression  in  each  face.  Some 
looked  up  at  our  spars,  as  if  to  ascertain  whether  all  were  right ; 
while  others  looked  back  at  the  headland  they  had  just  round- 
•ed,  like  those  who  examined  the  roadstead.  Most  shook  their 
heads,  as  remarks  passed  from  one  to  the  other.  The  captain, 
as  I  took  him  to  be,  spoke  us.  "  What  are  you  doing  here  ?" 
came  to  me  through  a  trumpet,  plainly  enough ;  but  answering 
was  out  of  the  question.  Before  I  could  even  get  a  trumpet  to 
my  mouth,  the  frigate  had  gone  foaming  by,  and  Avas  already 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  voice.  Heads  appeared  over  her  taff- 
rail  for  some  time,  and  we  fancied  these  man-of-warVmen  re 
garded  us  as  the  instructed  are  apt  to  regard  the  ignorant, 
whom  they  fancy  to  be  in  danger.  Marble  sneered  a  little  at 
the  curiosity  betrayed  by  these  two  crafts ;  but,  as  for  myself, 
it  caused  great  uneasiness.  I  fancied  they  acted  like  those  who 
were  acquainted  with  the  coast,  manifesting  surprise  at  seeing 
a  stranger  anchored  in  the  berth  we  occupied. 

I  slept  little  that  night.  Marble  kept  me  company  most  of 
the  time,  but  Neb  and  Diogenes  were  as  tranquil  as  if  sleeping 
on  good  French  mattresses — made  of  hair,  not  down — within 
the  Avails  of  a  citadel.  Little  disturbed  these  negroes,  Avho  fol 
lowed  our  fortunes  Avith  the  implicit  reliance  that  habit  and  edu 
cation  had  bred  in  them,  as  it  mi^ht  be,  in  and  in.  In  this 

'  O  '         . 

particular,  they  Avere  literally  dyed  in  the  AVOO!,  to  use  one  of  the 
shop  expressions  so  common  among  us. 

There  Avas  a  little  relaxation  in  the  force  of  the  gale  in  the 
middle  of  the  night ;  but,  with  the  return  of  day,  came  the 
Avinds  howling  doAvn  upon  us,  in  a  Avay  that  announced  a  more 
than  common  storm.  All  hands  of  us  Avere  UOAV  up,  and  pay 
ing  every  attention  to  the  Aressel.  My  greatest  concern  had 
been  lest  some  of  the  sails  should  get  adrift,  for  they  had  been 
furled  by  few  and  fatigued  men.  This  did  not  happen,  how- 
14 


314  MILES      WALLINGFOHD. 

ever,  our  gaskets  and  lashings  doing  all  of  their  duty.  We  got 
our  breakfasts,  therefore,  in  the  ordinary  way,  and  Marble  and 
myself  v&nt  and  stood  on  the  forecastle,  to  watch  the  signs  of 
the  times,  like  faithful  guardians,  who  were  anxious  to  get  as 
near  as  possible  to  the  danger. 

It  was  wonderful  how  the  ship  pitched  !  Frequently  her 
Aurora  was  completely  submerged,  and  tons  of  water  Avould 
come  in  upon  the  forecastle,  washing  entirely  aft  at  the  next 
send,  so  that  oir  only  means  of  keeping  above  water  was  to 
stand  on  the  \*  indlass-bitts,  or  to  get  upon  the  heart  of  the 
main-stay.  Dry  we  were  not,  nor  did  we  think  of  attempting 
to  be  so,  but  such  expedients  were  necessary  to  enable  us  to  re 
main  stationary ;  often  to  enable  us  to  breathe.  I  no  longer 
wondered  at  the  manner  in  which  the  cutter  and  frigate  had 
examined  our  position.  It  was  quite  clear  the  fishermen  knew 
very  little  about  finding  a  proper  berth  for  a  ship,  and  that  we 
might  pretty  nearly  as  well  have  brought  up  in  the  middle  of 
St.  George's  Channel,  could  our  ground-tackle  reach  the  bottom, 
as  to  have  brought  up  where  we  were. 

Just  about  nine  o'clock,  Marble  and  I  had  got  near  each 
other  on  the  fife-rail,  and  held  a  consultation  on  the  subject  of 
our  prospects.  Although  we  both  clung  to  the  same  topsail- 
sheet,  we  were  obliged  to  halloo  to  make  ourselves  heard,  the 
howling  of  the  wind  through  the  rigging  converting  the  hamper 
into  a  sort  of  tremendous  Eolian  harp,  while  the  roar  of  the 
water  kept  up  a  species  of  bass  accompaniment  to  this  music  of 
the  ocean.  Marble  was  the  one  who  had  brought  about  this 
communication,  and  he  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  I  say,  Miles,"  he  called  out,  his  mouth  within  three  feet  of 
my  ear,  "she  jumps  about  like  a  whale  with  a  harpoon  in  it ' 
I've  been  afraid  she'd  jerk  the  stem  out  of  her." 

"  Not  much  fear  of  that,  Moses — my  great  concern  is  that  star-- 
Ixrird  bower-cable  ;  it  has  a  good  deal  more  strain  on  it  than  the 
larboard,  and  you  can  see  how  the  strands  are  stretched." 

"  Ay,  ay,  'tis  generalizing  its  strength,  as  one  may  say. 
S'pose  we  clap  the  holm  a-port,  and  try  the  effects  of  a  sheer?" 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  315 

"  I've  thought  of  that ;  as  there  is  a  strong  tide  going,  it  may 
possibly  answer" — 

These  words  were  scarcely  out  of  ray  mouth,  when  three  seas 
of  enormous  height  came  rolling  down  upon  us,  like  three  great 
roistering  companions  in  a  crowd  of  sullen  men,  the  first  of 
which  raised  the  Dawn's  bows  so  high  in  the  air,  as  to  cause  us 
both  to  Avatch  the  result  in  breathless  silence.  The  plunge  into 
the  trough  was  in  a  just  proportion  to  the  toss  into  the  air; 
and  I  felt  a  surge,  as  if  something  gave  way  under  the  vio 
lent  strain  that  succeeded.  The  torrent  of  water  that  came 
on  the  forecastle  prevented  any  thing  from  being  seen ;  but 
again  the  bows  rose,  again  they  sunk,  and  then  the  ship  seemed 
easier. 

"  We  are  all  adrift,  Miles !"  Marble  shouted,  leaning  forward 
to  be  heard.  "  Both  bowers  have  snapped  like  thread,  and  here 
we  go,  head-foremost,  in' for  the  land  !" 

All  this  was  true  enough !  The  cables  had  parted,  and  the 
ship's  head  was  falling  off  fast  from  the  gale,  like  the  steed  that 
has  slipped  his  bridle,  before  he  commences  his  furious  and 
headlong  career.  I  looked  round  for  the  negroes ;  but  Neb  was 
already  at  the  wheel.  That  noble  fellow,  true  as  steel,  had  per 
ceived  the  accident  as  soon  as  any  of  us,  and  he  sprang  to  the 
very  part  of  the  vessel  where  he  was  most  needed.  He  had  a 
seaman's  faculties  in  perfection,  though  ratiocination  was  cer 
tainly  not  his  forte.  A  motion  of  my  hand  ordered  him  to  put 
the  helm  hard  up,  and  the  answering  sign  let  me  know  that  I 
was  obeyed.  We  could  do  no  more  just  then,  but  the  result 
was  awaited  in  awful  expectation. 

The  Dawn's  bows  fell  off  until  the  ship  lay  broadside  to  the 
gale,  which  made  her  reel  until  her  lee  lower  yard-arms  nearly 
dipped.  Then  she  overcame  the  cauldron  of  water  that  was 
boiling  around  her,  and  began  to  draw  heavily  ahead.  Three 
seas  swept  athwart  her  decks  before  she  minded  her  helm  in  the 
least,  carrying  with  them  every  thing  that  was  not  most  firmly 
lashed,  or  which  had  not  animal  life  to  direct  its  movements, 
away  to  leeward.  They  swept  otY  the  hen-coops,  and  ripped 


316  MILES     WALLINGFOUD. 

four  or  five  water-casks  from  their  lashings,  even  as  if  the  lattci 
had  been  packthread.  The  caboose-house  went  also,  at  the 
last  of  these  terrific  seas ;  and  nothing  saved  the  caboose  it 
self,  but  its  great  weight,  added  to  the  strength  of  its  fasten 
ings.  In  a  word,  little  Avas  left  that  could  very  well  go,  but  the 
launch,  the  gripes  of  which  fortunately  held  on. 

By  the  time  this  desolation  was  completed,  the  ship  began  to 
fall  off,  and  her  movement  through  the  water  became  very  per 
ceptible.  At  first,  she  dashed  in  toward  the  land,  running,  I 
make  no  doubt,  quite  half  a  mile  obliquely  in  that  direction, 
ere  she  got  fairly  before  the  wind — a  course  which  carried  her 
nearly  in  a  line  with  the  coast.  Marble  and  myself  now  got  aft 
without  much  trouble,  and  put  the  helm  a  little  to  starboard, 
with  a  view  to  edge  off  to  the  passage  as  far  as  possible.  The 
wind  blew  so  nearly  down  channel,  that  there  would  have  been 
no  immediate  danger,  had  we  an  offing ;  but  the  ship  had  not 
driven  before  the  gale  more  than  three  or  four  hours,  when  we 
made  land  ahead ;  the  coast  trending  in  this  part  of  the  island 
nearly  north  and  south.  Marble  suggested  the  prudence  of 
taking  time  by  the  forelock,  and  of  getting  the  main-topsail  or, 
the  ship,  to  force  her  off  the  land,  the  coast  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Dublin  lying  under  our  lee-bow.  We  had  taken  the  precau 
tion  to  close  reef  every  thing  before  it  wras  fuded,  and  I  went 
aloft  myself  to  lower  this  sail.  If  I  had  formed  a  very  re 
spectful  opinion  of  the  power  of  the  gale,  while  on  deck,  that 
opinion  was  materially  heightened  when  I  came  to  feel  its  gusts, 
on  the  main-topsail-yard.  It  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  hold  on 
at  all ;  and  to  work,  required  great  readiness  and  strength. 
Nevertheless,  I  got  the  sail  loose,  and  then  I  went  down  and 
aided  Marble  and  the  cook  to  drag  home  the  sheets.  Home, 
they  could  not  be  dragged  by  us,  notwithstanding  we  got  up  a 
luff;  but  we  made  the  sail  stand  reasonably  well. 

The  ship  immediately  felt  the  effect  of  even  this  rag  of  can 
vas.  She  drove  ahead  at  a  prodigious  rate,  running,  I  make  no 
question,  some  eleven  or  twelve  knots,  under  the  united  power 
co'lected  by  her  hamper  and  this  one  fragment  of  a  sail,  lh>r 


MILES      WALL1NGFOHD.  317 

drift  was  unavoidably  great,  and  I  thought  the  current  sucked 
her  in  toward  the  land ;  but,  on  the  whole,  she  kept  at  about 
the  same  distance  from  the  shore,  foaming  along  it,  much  as  we 
had  seen  the  frigate  do,  the  day  before.  At  the  rate  we  were 
going,  twelve  or  fifteen  hours  would  carry  us  down  to  the  pas 
sage  between  Holyheacl  and  Ireland,  when  we  should  get  more 
sea-room,  on  account  of  the  land's  trending  again  to  the  west 
ward. 

Long,  long  hours  did  Marble  and  I  watch  the  progress  of  our 
ship  that  day  and  the  succeeding  night,  each  of  us  taking  our 
tricks  at  the  Avheel,  and  doing  seaman's  duty,  as  well  as  that  of 
mate  and  master.  All  this  time,  the  vessel  was  dashing  furi 
ously  out  toward  the  Atlantic,  which  she  reached  ere  the  morn 
ing  of  the  succeeding  day.  Just  before  the  light  returned  we 
were  whirled  past  a  large  ship  that  was  lying-to,  under  a  single 
storm-staysail,  and  which  I  recognized  as  the  frigate  that  had 
taken  a  look  at  us  at  our  anchorage.  The  cutter  Avas  close  at 
hand,  and  the  fearful  manner  in  which  these  two  strong-handed 
vessels  pitched  and  lurched,  gave  me  some  idea  of  what  must 
be  our  situation,  should  we  be  compelled  to  luff  to  the  wind. 
I  supposed  they  had  done  so,  in  order  to  keep  as  long  as  pos 
sible  on  their  cruising  ground,  near  the  chops  of  the  Irish 
Channel. 

A  wild  scene  lay  around  us,  at  the  return  of  light.  The  At 
lantic  resembled  a  chaos  of  waters,  the  portions  of  the  rolling 
sheet  that  were  not  white  with  foam,  looking  green  and  angry. 
The  clouds  hid  the  sun,  and  the  gale  seemed  to  be  fast  coming 
to  its  height.  At  ten,  we  drove  past  an  American,  with  nothing 
standing  but  his  foremast.  Like  us,  he  Avas  running  off,  though 
AVC  went  three  feet  to  his  two.  Half  an  hour  later,  AVC  had  the 
awful  sight  before  our  eyes  of  Avitncssing  the  sudden  disappear 
ance  of  an  English  brig.  She  Avas  lying-to,  directly  on  our 
course,  and  I  Avas  looking  at  her  from  the  Avindlass,  trying  to 
form  some  opinion  as  to  the  expediency  of  our  luffing-to,  in 
order  to  hold  our  own.  Of  a  sudden,  this  brig  gave  a  plunge, 
and  she  Avent  down  like  a  porpoise  diving.  What  caused  this 


318  MILES      WALLINGFOUD. 

disaster  I  never  knew  ;  but,  in  five  minutes  we  passed  as  near 
as  possible  over  the  spot,  and  not  a  trace  of  her  was  to  be  seen. 
I  could  not  discover  so  much  as  a  handspike  floating,  though  I 
looked  with  intense  anxiety,  in  the  hope  of  picking  up  some 
fellow-creature  clinging  to  a  spar.  As  for  stopping  to  examine, 
one  who  did  not  understand  the  language  might  as  well  hope  to 
read  the  German  character  on  a  mile-stone,  while  flying  past  it 
in  a  railroad  car. 

At  noon,  precisely,  away  went  our  fore-topsail  out  of  the 
gaskets.  One  fastening  snapped  after  another,  until  the  whole 
sail  was  adrift.  The  tugs  that  this  large  sheet  of  canvas  gave 
upon  the  spars,  as  it  shook  in  the  wind,  threatened  to  jerk  the 
foremast  out  of  the  ship.  They  lasted  about  three  minutes, 
when,  after  a  report  almost  as  loud  as  that  of  a  small  piece  of 
ordnance,  the  sail  split  in  ribbons.  Ten  minutes  later,  our  main- 
topsail  went.  This  sail  left  us  as  it  might  be  bodily,  and  I  act 
ually  thought  that  a  gun  of  distress  was  fired  near  us,  by  some 
vessel  that  was  unseen.  The  bolt-rope  was  left  set;  the  sheets,  ear- 
ings,  and  reef  points  all  holding  on,  the  cloth  tearing  at  a  single 
rent  around  the  four  sides  of  the  sail.  The  scene  that  followed 
I  scarcely  know  how  to  describe.  The  torn  part  of  the  main- 
topsail  flew  forward,  and  caught  in  the  after  part  of  the  fore-top, 
where  it  stood  spread,  as  one  might  say,  held  by  the  top,  cat- 
harpins,  rigging,  and  other  obstacles.  This  was  the  feather  to 
break  the  camel's  back.  Bolt  after  bolt  of  the  fore-rigging 
drew  or  broke,  each  parting  with  a  loud  report,  and  away 
went  every  thing  belonging  to  the  foremast  over  the  bows, 
from  the  deck  up.  The  main-topmast  AVOS  dragged  down  by 
this  fearful  pull,  and  that  brought  the  mizzen-topgallant-mast 
after  it.  The  pitching  of  so  much  hamper  under  the  bows  of 
the  ship,  while  her  after-masts  stood,  threw  the  stern  round, 
in  spite  cf  the  manner  in  which  Marble  steered ;  and  the  ship 
broached-to.  In  doing  this,  the  sea  made  a  fair  breach  over 
her,  sweeping  the  deck  of  even  the  launch  and  caboose,  and 
carrying  all  the  lee  bulwarks,  in  the  waist,  with  them.  Neb  was 
in  the  launch  at  the  time,  hunting  for  some  article  kept  there  ; 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  310 

and  tlic  hist  I  saw  of  the  poor  fellow,  he  was  standing  erect  in 
the  bows  of  the  boat,  as  the  latter  drove  over  the  vessel's  side, 
on  the  summit  of  a  wave,  like  a  bubble  floating  in  a  furious  cur 
rent.  Diogenes,  it  seems,  had  that  moment  gone  to  his  ca 
boose,  to  look  after  the  plain  dinner  he  was  trying  to  boil,  when 
probably  seizing  the  iron  as  the  most  solid  object  near  him,  he 
was  carried  overboard  with  it,  and  never  reappeared.  Marble 
Avas  in  a  tolerably  safe  part  of  the  vessel,  at  the  wheel,  and  he 
kept  his  feet,  though  the  water  rose  above  his  waist ;  as  high,  in 
deed,  as  his  arms.  As  for  myself,  I  was  saved  only  by  the  .main- 
rigging,  into  which  I  was  driven,  and  where  I  lodged. 

I  could  not  but  admire  the  coolness  and  conduct  of  Marble 
even  at  that  terrific  moment !  In  the  first  place,  he  put  the 
helm  hard  down,  and  lashed  the  wheel,  the  wisest  thing  that 
could  be  done  by  men  in  our  situation.  This  he  did  by  means 
of  that  nautical  instinct  which  enables  a  seaman  to  act,  in  the 
direst  emergencies,  almost  without  reflection,  or  as  one  closes 
his  eyes  to  avoid  danger  to  the  pupils.  Then  he  gave  one 
glance  at  the  state  of  things  in-board,  running  forward  with  the 
end  of  a  rope  to  throw  to  Diogenes,  should  the  cook  rise  near 
the  ship.  By  the  time  he  was  satisfied  the  hope  of  doing  any 
thing  in  that  way,  was  vain,  I  was  on  deck,  and  we  two  stood 
facing  each  other,  in  the  midst  of  the  scene  of  desolation  and 
ruin  that  was  around  us.  Marble  caught  my  hand  with  a  look 
that  spoke  as  plainly  as  words.  It  told  me  the  joy  he  felt  at 
seeing  I  was  spared,  his  determination  to  stick  by  me  to  the 
last ;  yet,  how  low  were  his  hopes  of  ultimate  preservation  !  It 
was  such  a  look  as  any  man  would  be  glad  to  receive  from  a 
comrade  in  the  heat  of  battle ;  nevertheless,  it  was  not  a  1  :>ok 
that  promised  victory. 

The  situation  of  the  ship  would  now  have  been  much  better 
than  it  had  been,  in  many  respects,  were  it  not  for  the  wreck. 
All  the  masts  forward  had  gone  over  the  lee-bow,  and  would 
have  lain  in  a  sufficiently  favorable  situation  for  a  strong  crew  to 
get  rid  of  them ;  but  in  our  case  we  were  compelled  to  let 
Oiino-s  take  their  course.  It  is  true,  we  could  cut  awav,  and 


320  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

this  we  began  to  do  pretty  freely,  but  the  lower  end  of  tlie  fore 
mast  lay  on  the  forecastle,  where  it  was  grinding  every  thing 
near  it  to  pieces,  with  the  heaving  and  setting  of  the  waves.  All 
the  bulwarks  in  that  part  of  the  ship  threatened  soon  to  be 
beaten  down,  and  I  felt  afraid  the  cathead  would  be  torn  vio 
lently  out  of  the  ship,  leaving  a  bad  leak.  Leaks  enough  there 
were,  as  it  was ;  the  launch,  caboose,  water-casks,  and  spare 
spars,  in  driving  overboard,  having  forced  out  timber-heads,  and 
other  supports,  in  a  way  to  split  the  plank  sheer,  which  let  in 
the  water  fast,  every  time  the  lee  gunwale  went  under.  I  gave 
up  my  sugars  and  coffees  from  the  first,  bringing  my  hopes 
down  as  low  as  the  saving  of  the  ship,  the  instant  I  saw  the 
state  of  the  upper  works. 

Marble  and  I  had  not  been  educated  in  a  school  Ihat  is  apt 
to  despair.  As  for  my  mate,  had  he  found  himself  on  a  plank 
in  the  middle  of  the  Atlantic,  I  do  believe  he  would  have  set 
about  rigging  a  jury-mast,  by  splitting  off  a  piece  of  the  hull  of" 
his  craft  and  spreading  his  shirt  by  way  of  sail.  I  never  knew 
a  more  in-and-in-bred  seaman,  who,  Avhen  one  resource  failed, 
invariably  set  about  the  next  best  visible  expedient.  We  were 
at  a  loss,  however,  whether  to  make  an  effort  to  get  rid  of  the 
foremast,  or  not.  With  the  exception  of  the  damages  it  did  on 
the  forecastle,  it  was  of  use  to  us,  keeping  the  ship's  bow  up  to 
the  wind,  and  making  "better  weather  for  us,  on  deck.  The 
after-masts  standing,  while  those  forward  were  gone,  had  the 
effect  to  press  the  stern  of  the  vessel  to  leeward,  while  this  sup 
port  in  the  water  prevented  her  bows  from  falling  off,  and  we 
rode  much  nearer  to  the  wind  than  is  usual  with  a  ship  that  is 
lying-to.  It  is  true,  the  outer  end  of  the  fallen  spars  began  to 
drive  to  leeward ;  and,  acting  as  a  long  lever,  they  were  grad 
ually  working  the  broken  end  of  the  foremast  athwart  the  fore 
castle,  ripping  and  tearing  away  every  thing  on  the  gunwale, 
and  threatening  the  foot  of  the  main-stay.  This  made  it  desir 
able  to  be  rid  of  the  wreck,  while  on  the  other  hand,  there  WM? 
the  danger  of  the  ship's  bottom  beating  against  the  end  of  tho 
mast,  did  the  latter  get  overboard.  Under  all  these  circum- 


MILES     W  ALLINGFOUD.  321 

stances,  however,  we  determined  to  cut  as  much  of  the  gear  as 
possible,  and  let  the  fallen  spars  work  themselves  clear  of  us,  if 
they  could. 

Our  job  was  by  no  means  easy.  It  was  difficult  to  stand  even 
on  the  deck  of  the  Dawn  in  a  time  like  that,  and  this  difficulty 
Avas  greatly  increased  forward  by  having  so  little  to  hold  on 
by.  But  work  we  did,  and  in  a  way  that  cleared  most  of  the 
rigging  from  the  ship  in  the  course  of  the  next  half  hour.  We 
were  encouraged  by  the  appearances  of  the  weather  too,  the  gale 
1  laving  broken,  and  promising  to  abate.  The  ship  grew  a  little 
easier,  I  thought,  and  we  moved  about  Avith  more  confidence 
of  not  being  Avashed  away  by  the  seas  that  came  on  board  us. 
After  a  time,  we  took  some  refreshments,  eating  the  remains  of 
a  former  meal,  and  cheered  our  hearts  a  little  Avith  a  glass  or 
two  of  good  sherry.  Temperance  may  be  very  useful,  but  so 
is  a  glass  of  good  Avine,  Avhen  properly  used.  Then  Ave  Avent  at 
it  again,  Avorking  with  a  Avill  and  with  spirit.  The  wreck  aft 
Avanted  very  little  to  carry  it  over  the  side,  and  going  aloft  Avith 
an  axe,  I  Avatched  my  opportunity,  cut  one  or  tAvo  of  the  shrouds 
and  stays,  just  as  the  ship  lurched  heavily  to  leeAvard,  and  got 
rid  of  the  Avhole  in  the  sea,  handsomely,  Avithout  further  injury 
to  the  ship.  This  Avas  a  good  deliverance,  the  manner  in  which 
the  spars  had  threshed  about,  having  menaced  our  lives  before. 
We  now  attacked"  the  Avreck  forward,  for  the  last  time,  feeling 
certain  AVC  should  get  it  adrift,  could  AVC  sever  the  connection 
formed  by  one  or  tAvo  of  the  larger  ropes.  The  lee-shrouds  in 
particular  gave  us  trouble,  it  being  impossible  to  get  at  them  in 
board,  the  fore-channels  being  half  the  time  under  Avater,  and 
the  bulwarks  in  their  Avake  being  all  gone.  It  was,  in  fact,  im 
possible  to  stand  there  to  Avork  long  enough  to  clear  or  cut  all 
the  lanyards.  Marble  Avas  an  adventurous  felloAv  aloft,  on  all 
occasions,  and  seeing  good  footing  about  the  top,  Avithout  say- 
Ing  a  Avord  to  me,  he  seized  an  axe,  and  literally  ran  out  on  the 
mast,  Avhere  he  began  to  cut  the  collars  of  the  rigging  at  the 
mast-head.  This  Avas  soon  done,  but  the  spars  were  no  sooner 
clear  than,  impelled  by  a  Avavc  that  nearly  drowned  the  mate, 


822  MILES      WALLINGPORD. 

the  end  of  the  foremast  slid  off  the  forecastle  into  the  sea,  leav 
ing  the  ship  virtually  clear  of  the  wreck,  but  my  mate  adrift  on 
the  last ;  I  say  virtually  clear,  for  the  lee  fore-topsail-brace  still 
remained  fast  to  the  ship,  by  some  oversight  in  clearing  away 
the  smaller  ropes.  The  effect  of  this  restraint  was  to  cause  the 
whole  body  of  the  wreck  to  swing  slowly  round,  until  it  rode  by 
this  rope  alone.  , 

Here  was  a  new  and  a  most  serious  state  of  things !  I  knew 
that  my  mate  would  do  all  that  man  could  perform,  situated  as 
he  was,  but  what  man  could  swim  against  such  a  sea,  even  the 
short  distance  that  interposed  between  the  spars  and  the  ship  ? 
The  point  of  the  wreck  nearest  the  vessel  was  the  end  of  the 
topsail-yard,  to  which  the  brace  led,  and  this  was  raised  from 
the  water  by  the  strain  (the  other  end  of  the  brace  leading  aloft) 
fathoms  at  a  time,  rendering  it  extremely  difficult  for  Marble  to 
reach  the  rope,  by  means  of  which  I  could  now  see,  notwith 
standing  all  the  difficulties,  he  hoped  to  regain  the  vessel.  The 
voice  could  be  heard  by  one  directly  to  leeward,  the  howling  of 
the  winds  and  the  roar  of  the  waters  having  materially  lessened 
within  the  last  few  hours.  I  shouted  to  Marble,  therefore,  my 
intentions. 

"Stand  by  to  get  the  brace  as  I  ease  it  off,  in-board,"  I  cried ; 
"  then  you  will  be  safe !" 

The  mate  understood  me,  giving  a  gesture  of  assent  with  his 
arm.  When  both  were  ready,  I  eased  off  the  rope  suddenly,  and 
Marble,  partly  by  crawling  and  partly  by  floating  and  dragging 
himself  by  the  hands,  actually  got  to  the  yard-arm,  Avhich  was 
immediately  raised  from  the  water,  however,  by  the  drift  made 
by  the  spars,  while  he  was  achieving  his  object.  I  trembled  as 
1  saw  this  stout  seaman,  the  water  dripping  from  his  clothes, 
thus  elevated  in  the  air,  with  the  angry  billows  rolling  beneath 
him,  like  lions  leaping  upward  to  catch  the  adventurer  in  their 
grasp.  Marble's  hand  was  actually  extended  to  reach  the  brace, 
when  its  block  gave  way  with  the  strain.  The  eye  of  the  strap 
.slipping  from  the  yard,  down  went  the  spar  into  the  water. 
Next  the  trough  of  the  sea  hid  every  thing  from  my  sight,  and 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D.  323 

I  was  left  in  the  most  painful  doubt  of  the  result,  when  I  per- 
ceived  the  mate  lashing  himself  to  the  top,  as  the  portion  of  the 
wreck  that  floated  the  most  buoyantly.  .  He  had  managed  to 
get  in  again,  and  coolly  went  to  work  to  secure  himself  in  the 
best  berth  he  could  find,  the  instant  he  regained  the  main  mass 
of  the  wreck.  As  he  rose  on  the  crest  of  the  sea,  the  poor  fel 
low  made  a  gesture  of  adieu  to  me,  the  leave-taking  of  the 
mariner ! 

In  this  manner  did  it  please  divine  Providence  to  separate 
us  four,  who  had  already  gone  through  so  much  in  company ! 
With  what  moody  melancholy  did  I  watch  the  wreck,  as  it 
slowly  drifted  from  the  ship.  I  no  longer  thought  of  making 
further  efforts  to  save  the  Dawn,  and  I  can  truly  say,  that  scarce 
a  thought  in  connection  with  my  own  life,  crossed  my  mind. 
There  I  stood  for  quite  an  hour,  leaning  against  the  foot  of  the 
mizzcnmast,  with  folded  anus  and  riveted  eyes,  regardless  of 
the  pitches,  and  lurches,  and  rolling  of  the  ship,  with  all  my 
faculties  and  thoughts  fastened  on  the  form  of  Marble,  ex 
pecting  each  time  that  the  top  rose  to  view  to  find  it  empty. 
He  was  too  securely  lashed,  however,  to  strike  adrift,  though  he 
\v;is  nearly  half  the  time  under  water.  It  was  impossible  to  do 
any  thing  to  save  him.  No  boat  was  left ;  had  there  been  one, 
it  could  not  have  lived,  nor  could  I  have  managed  it  alone. 
Spars  he  had  already,  but  what  must  become  of  him  without 
food  or  water  ?  I  threw  two  breakers  of  the  last  into  the  sea, 
and  a  box  of  bread,  in  a  sort  of  idle  hope  they  might  drift  down 
near  the  wreck,  and  help  to  prolong  the  sufferer's  life.  They 
were  all  tossed  about  in  the  cauldron  of  the  ocean,  and  disap 
peared  to  leeward,  I  knew  not  whither.  When  Marble  was  no 
longer  visible  from  deck,  I  went  into  the  main-top  and  watched 
the  mass  of  spars  and  rigging,  so  long  as  any  portion  of  it  could 
IDC  seen.  Then  I  set  it  by  compass,  in  order  to  know  its  bear 
ing,  and  an  hour  before  the  sun  went  down,  or  as  soon  as  the 
diminished  power  of  the  wind  would  permit,  I  showed  an  ensign 
aloft,  as  a  signal  that  I  bore  my  mate  in  mind. 

"  He  knows  I  will  not  desert  him  as  long  as  there  is  hope— 


324  MILES     WALLINGKORD. 

so  long  as  I  have  life !"  I  muttered  to  myself;  and  this  thought 
was  a  relief  to  my  mind,  in  that  bitter  moment. 

Bitter  moment,  truly  !  Time  has  scarcely  lessened  the  keen 
ness  of  the  sensations  I  endured,  as  memory  traces  the  feelings 
and  incidents  of  that  day.  From  the  hour  when  I  sailed  from 
home,  Lucy's  image  was  seldom  absent  from  my  imagination 
ten  minutes  at  a  time ;  I  thought  of  her,  sleeping  and  waking ; 
in  all  my  troubles ;  the  interest  of  the  sea-fight  I  had  seen  could 
not  prevent  this  recurrence  of  my  ideas  to  their  polar  star,  their 
powerful  magnet ;  but  I  do  not  remember  to  have  thought  of 
Lucy  even  once  after  Marble  was  thus  carried  away  from  iny  side. 
Neb,  too,  with  his  patient  servitude,  his  virtues,  his  faults,  his 
dauntless  courage,  his  unbounded  devotion  to  myself,  had  taken  a 
strong  hold  on  my  heart,  and  his  loss  had  greatly  troubled  me, 
since  the  time  it  occurred.  But  I  remember  to  have  thought 
much  of  Lucy,  even  after  Neb  was  swept  away,  though  her 
image  became  temporarily  lost  to  my  mind,  during  the  first  few 
hours  I  was  thus  separated  from  Marble. 

By  the  time  the  sun  set,  the  wind  had  so  far  abated,  and  the 
sea  had  gone  down  so  much,  as  to  remove  all  further  apprehen 
sions  from  the  gale.  The  ship  lay-to  easily,  and  I  had  no  occa 
sion  to  give  myself  any  trouble  on  her  account.  Had  there 
been  light,  I  should  now  have  put  the  helm  up,  and  run  to  lee 
ward,  in  the  hope  of  finding  the  spars,  and  at  least  of  keeping 
near  Marble;  but  fearful  of  passing  him  in  the  darkness,  I  deferred 
that  duty  until  the  morning.  All  I  could  do  was  to  watch  the 
weather,  in  order  to  make  this  effort,  before  the  wind  should 
shift. 

What  a  night  I  passed !  As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  I  sounded 
the  pumps,  and  found  six  feet  water  in  the  hold.  It  was  idle 
for  one  man  to  attempt  clearing  a  vessel  of  the  Dawn's  size ; 
and  I  gave  myself  no  further  thought  in  the  matter.  So  much 
injury  had  been  done  the  upper  works  of  the  ship,  that  I  had  a 
sort  of  conviction  she  must  go  down,  unless  fallen  in  with  by 
some  other  craft.  I  cannot  say  apprehension  for  my  own  fate 
troubled  me  any,  or  that  I  thought  of  the  ruin  to  my  fortunes  that 


MILKS      WALLINGFORD.  325 

\v;is  involved  in  the  loss  of  the  ship.  My  mind  reverted  con 
stantly  to  my  companions;  could  I  have  recovered  them,  I 
should  have  been  happy,  for  a  time,  at  least. 

I  slept  two  or  three  hours  toward  morning,  overcome  with 
fatigue.  When  I  awoke,  it  was  in  consequence  of  receiving  the 
sun's  rays  in  my  face.  Springing  to  my  feet,  I  cast  a  confused 
and  hurried  glance  around  me.  The  wind  was  still  at  north 
east,  but  it  barely  blew  a  good  whole-sail  breeze.  The  sea  had 
gone  down,  to  the  regular  roll  of  the  ocean ;  and  a  finer  day 
never  shone  upon  the  Atlantic.  I  hurried  eagerly  on  deck,  and 
gazed  on  the  ocean  to  leeward,  with  longing  eyes,  to  ascertain 
if  any  thing  could  be  seen  of  the  wreck  of  our  spars.  Nothing 
was  visible.  From  the  main-top,  I  could  command  a  pretty 
wide  horizon ;  but  the  ocean  lay  a  bright,  glittering  blank,  the 
crests  of  its  own  waves  excepted.  I  felt  certain  the  Dawn  was 
so  weatherly,  that  the  spars  were  to  leeward  ;  but  the  ship  must 
have  forged  miles  ahead,  during  the  last  twelve  hours;  and 
there  was  almost  the  equal  certainty  of  her  being  a  long  distance 
to  the  southward  of  the  floating  hamper,  her  head  having  lain 
in  that  direction  since  the  time  she  broached-to.  To  get  her 
off  before  the  wind,  then,  was  my  first  concern,  after  which  I 
could  endeavor  to  force  her  to  the  northward,  running  the 
chance  of  falling  in  with  the  spars.  Could  I  find  my  ,mat&,  wo 
might  still  die  together,  which  would  have  been  a  mclancluly 
consolation  just  then. 


320  MILES      WALUNGfORD. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

11  Father  of  all !    In  every  age, 

In  every  clime,  adored ; 
By  saint,  by  savage,  or  by  sajrc — 

Jehovali !  Jove  I  or  Lord !'' 

POPE. 

FEELING  the  necessity  of  possessing  all  my  strength,  I  ate  a 
breakfast  before  I  commenced  work.  It  was  with  a  heavy 
heart  and  but  little  appetite  that  I  took  this  solitary  meal;  but 
I  felt  that  its  effects  were  good.  When  finished,  I  knelt  on  the 
deck,  and  prayed  to  God,  fervently,  asking  his  divine  assistance 
in  my  extremity.  Why  should  an  old  man,  whose  race  is  near 
ly  run,  hesitate  to  own,  that  in  the  pride  of  his  youth  and 
strength,  he  was  made  to  feel  how  insufficient  AVC  all  arc  for  our 
wants  ?  Yes,  I  prayed ;  and  I  hope  in  a  fitting  spirit,  for  I  felt 
that  this  spiritual  sustenance  did  me  even  more  good  than  the 
material  of  which  I  had  just  before  partaken.  When  I  rose 
from  my  knees,  it  was  Avith  a  sense  of  hope,  that  I  endeavored 
to  suppress  a  little,  as  both  unreasonable  and  dangerous.  Per 
haps  the  spirit  of  my  sainted  sister  was  permitted  to  look  down 
on  me,  in  that  awful  strait,  and  to  offer  up  its  own  pure  peti 
tions  in  behalf  of  a  brother  she  had  so  warmly  loved.  I  began 
to  feel  myself  less  alone,  and  the  work  advanced  the  better 
from  this  mysterious  sort  of  consciousness  of  the  presence 
of  the  souls  of  those  who  had  felt  an  interest  in  me,  while  in 
the  body. 

My  first  measure  was  to  lead  the  jib-stay,  which  had  parted 
near  the  head  of  its  own  mast,  to  the  head  of  the  mainmast. 
This  I  did  by  bending  on  a  piece  of  another  rope.  I  then  got 
up  the  halyards,  and  loosened  and  set  the  jib;  a  job  that  con- 


MILES      AVALLINGPORD.  327 

sumed  quite  two  hoiirs.  Of  course,  this  sail  di.\  not  set  very 
well,  but  it  was  the  only  mode  I  had  of  getting  forward  canvas 
on  the  ship  at  all.  As  soon  as  the  jib  was  set,  in  this  imperfect 
manner,  I  put  the  helm  up,  and  got  the  ship  before  the  wind.  I 
then  hauled  out  the  spanker,  and  gave  it  sheet.  By  these 
means,  aided  by  the  action  of  the  breeze  on  the  hull  and  spars, 
I  succeeded  in  getting  something  like  three  knots'  way  on  the 
ship,  keeping  off  a  little  northerly,  in  which  direction  I  felt  sen 
sible  it  was  necessary  to  proceed  in  quest  of  the  spars.  I  esti 
mated  the  drift  of  the  wreck  at  a  knot  an  hour,  including  the 
good  and  moderate  weather ;  and,-  allowing  for  that  of  the  ship 
itself,  I  supposed  it  must  be,  by  that  time,  some  twelve  miles  to 
leeward  of  me.  These  twelve  miles  I  managed  to  run  by  noon, 
when  I  hauled  up  sufficiently  to  bring  the  wind  abeam,  head 
ing  northwardly.  As  the  ship  would  now  steer  herself,  that  is 
as  small  as  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  go,  I  collected  some  food, 
took  a  glass,  and  went  up  into  the  main-top,  to  dine,  and  to 
examine  the  ocean. 

The  anxious,  anxious  hours  I  passed  in  that  top !  Not  an 
object  of  any  sort  appeared  on  the  surface  of  the  Avide  ocean. 
Tt  seemed  as  if  the  birds  and  the  fishes  had  abandoned  me  to 
my  loneliness.  I  watched  and  examined  the  surrounding  sea, 
until  my  hands  were  tired  with  holding  the  glass,  and  my  eyes 
became  weary  with  their  office.  Fortunately,  the  breeze  stood, 
though  the  sea  went  down  fast,  giving  me  every  opportunity  I 
could  desire  of  effecting  my  object.  The  ship  yawed  about  a 
good  deal,  it  is  true,  but  on  the  whole  she  made  a  very  tolerable 
course.  I  could  see  by  the  water  that  she  had  a  motion  of 
about  two  knots  for  most  of  the  time,  though,  as  the  day  ad 
vanced,  the  wind  began  to  fall,  and  her  rate  of  going  diminished 
quite  one  half. 

At  length,  after  passing  hours  aloft,  I  went  below  to  look  after 
things  there.  On  sounding  the  pumps  I  found  ten  feet  water 
in  the  hold,  though  the  upper  works  were  now  not  at  all  sub 
merged,  and  the  motion  of  the  vessel  was  very  easy.  That  the 
Dawn  was  gradually  sinking  under  me,  was  a  fact  too  evident  to 


328  MILES      WALLINGFO  R  I>« 

be  denied  ;  and  all  tlie  concerns  of  this  life  began  to  narrow  .nto 
a  circle  of  some  four-and-twenty  hours.  That  time  the  ship 
would  probably  float,  possibly  a  little  longer  should  the  weather 
continue  moderate.  The  wind  was  decreasing  still,  and,  think 
ing  I  might  have  a  tranquil  night,  I  determined  to  pass  that 
time  in  preparing  for  the  last  great  change.  I  had  no  will  to 
make — little  to  leave,  indeed,  after  my  vessel  was  gone ;  for  the 
debt  due  to  John  "Wallingford  would  go  far  toward  absorbing 
all  my  property.  When  his  840,000  were  paid  under  a  forced 
sale,  little,  indeed,  would  be  the  residue. 

The  state  of  things  would  have  been  somewhat  different  un 
der  a  fair  sale,  perhaps,  but  a  forced  sale  would  probably  sweep 
away  every  thing.  It  is  true  my  creditor  was  my  heir ;  for,  a 
legacy  to  Lucy  and  a  few  bequests  to  my  slaves  excepted,  I  had 
fairly  bequeathed  all  I  owned  to  my  cousin.  As  for  the  blacks 
themselves,  under  the  new  policy  of  New  York,  they  would  soon 
be  free ;  and  I  had  no  other  interest  in  their  fate  than  that  of 
habit  and  affection. 

But  why  speak  of  property  in  the  situation  in  Avhich  I  was 
placed  ?  Had  I  owned  the  whole  of  Ulster  county,  my  wishes, 
or  any  new  will  I  might  make,  must  die  with  me.  The  ocean 
would  soon  engulf  the  whole.  Had  I  no  desire  to  make  an  effort 
to  save  myself,  or  at  least  to  prolong  my  existence,  by  means  of 
a  raft  ? — of  boat  there  was  none  in  the  ship.  The  English  had 
the  yawl,  and  the  launch  had  been  driven  away.  The  spare 
spars  were  swept  overboard,  as  well  as  all  the  water-casks  that 
had  been  lashed  on  deck.  I  might  have  done  something  with 
the  hatches  and  mizzen-topmast,  possibly,  could  I  have  gotten 
the  last  into  the  water,  but  the  expedient  was  so  desperate  it 
did  not  hold  out  any  hopes  to  be  encouraged.  Even  the  hand 
spikes  had  gone  in  the  launch,  and  two  of  the  buoys  had  been 
left  with  the  anchors  on  the  Irish  coast.  Under  all  the  circum 
stances,  it  appeared  to  me  that  it  would  be  more  manly  and 
resigned  to  meet  my  fate  at  once,  than  to  attempt  any  such 
feeble  projects  to  prolong  existence  for  a  few  hours.  I  came  to 
the  resolution,  therefore,  to  go  down  in  my  ship. 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  X  G  F  O  R  D .  32!) 

What  was  there  to  make  life  particularly  dear  to  me  ?  My 
home,  my  much-beloved  Clawbonny,  must  go  at  all  events ;  and 
I  will  own  that  a  feeling  of  bitter  distrust  crossed  my  mind  as  I 
thought  of  these  things,  and  that  I  began  to  fancy  John  Walling- 
ford  might  have  urged  me  to  borrow  his  money,  expressly  to 
obtain  a  chance  of  seizing  an  estate  that  was  so  much  prized  by 
every  Wallingford.  I  suppressed  this  feeling,  however,  and  in 
a  clear  voice  I  asked  my  cousin's  pardon,  the  same  as  if  he  had 
been  within  hearing.  Of  Lucy,  I  had  no  longer  any  hope; 
Grace  was  already  in  heaven ;  and  the  world  contained,  few  that 
cared  for  me.  After  Mr.  Ilardinge,  Lucy  always  excepted,  I 
now  loved  Marble  and  Neb  the  most,  and  these  two  were  prob 
ably  both  dead,  or  doomed,  like  myself.  We  must  all  yield  up 
our  lives  once ;  and  though  my  hour  came  rather  early,  it  should 
be  met  as  a  man  meets  every  thing,  even  to  death  itself. 

Some  time  before  the  sun  set,  I  went  aloft  to  take  a  last  look 
at  the  ocean.  I  do  not  think  any  desire  to  prolong  my  existence 
carried  me  up  the  mast,  but  there  was  a  lingering  wish  to  look 
after  my  mate.  The  ocean  beamed  gloriously  that  eventide,  and 
I  fancied  that  it  was  faintly  reflecting  the  gracious  countenance 
of  its  divine  Creator,  in  a  smile  of  beneficent  love.  I  felt  my 
heart  soften,  as  I  gazed  around  me,  and  I  fancied  heavenly  mu 
sic  was  singing  the  praises  of  God  on  the  face  of  the  great  deep. 
Then  I  knelt  in  the  top  and  prayed. 

Rising,  I  looked  at  the  ocean,  as  I  supposed,  for  the  last  time. 
Not  a  sail  was  anywhere  to  be  seen.  I  cannot  say  that  I  felt 
disappointed — I  did  not  expect  relief  from  that  quarter.  My 
object  Avas  to  find  my  mate,  that  we  might  die  together.  Slow 
ly  I  raised  the  glass,  and  the  horizon  was  swept  with  delibera 
tion.  Nothing  appeared.  I  had  shut  the  glass,  and  was  about 
to  sling  it,  when  my  eye  caught  the  appearance  of  something 
floating,  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  within  a  mile  of  the  ship, 
well  to  leeward,  and  ahead.  I  had  overlooked  it,  in  consequence 
of  ranging  above  it  with  the  glass,  in  the  desire  to  sweep  the 
horizon.  I  could  not  be  mistaken :  it  was  the  wreck.  In  a 
moment  the  glass  was  levelled,  and  I  assured  myself  of  the  fact. 


330  M  I  L  E  S      VI  A  L  L  I  X  G  F  O  R  D  . 

The  top  was  plainly  visible,  floating  quite  high  above  the  sur 
face,  and  portions  of  the  yards  and  masts  were  occasionally  seen, 
as  the  undulations  of  the  ocean  left  them  bare.  I  saw  an  object, 
lying  motionless  across  the  top-rim,  Avhich  I  supposed  to  be 
Marble.  He  was  either  dead  or  asleep. 

What  a  revulsion  of  feeling  came  over  me  at  this  sight !  A 
minute  before,  and  I  was  completely  isolated ;  cut  oft'  from  the 
rest  of  my  species,  and  resigned  to  a  fate  that  seemed  to  com 
mand  my  quitting  this  state  of  being,  without  further  commu 
nion  with  mankind.  Every  thing  was  changed.  Here  was  the 
companion  of  so  many  former  dangers,  the  man  who  had  taught 
me  my  profession,  one  that  I  can  truly  say  I  loved,  quite  near 
me,  and  possibly  dying  for  the  want  of  that  aid  which  I  might 
render !  I  was  on  deck  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye ;  the  sheets 
were  eased  off,  and  the  helm  put  up.  Obedient  to  my  wishes, 
the  ship  fell  off,  and  I  soon  got  a  glimpse,  from  the  spot  where 
I  stood,  at  the  wheel,  of  the  wreck  a  little  clear  of  the  weather 
cathead.  By  this  time,  the  wind  Avas  so  light,  and  the  ship 
had  got  to  be  so  deep  in  the  water,  that  the  motion  of  the  last 
was  very  slow.  Even  with  the  helm  up,  it  scarce  equalled  half 
a  knot;  I  began  to  fear  I  should  not  be  able  to  reach  my  goal, 
after  all ! 

There  were  now  intervals  of  dead  calm  ;  then  the  air  would 
return  in  little  puffs,  urging  the  great  mass  heavily  onward.  I 
whistled,  I  prayed,  I  called  aloud  for  wind ;  in  short,  I  adopted 
all  the  expedients  known,  from  that  of  the  most  vulgar  nautical 
superstition,  up  to  profound  petitions  to  the  Father  of  Mercies. 
T  presume  all  this  brought  no  change,  though  the  passage  of 
time  did.  About  half  an  hour  before  the  sun  dipped  into  the 
ocean,  the  ship  was  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  wreck.  This 
I  could  ascertain  by  stolen  glances,  for  the  direction  I  was  now 
compelled  to  steer,  placed  the  forward  part  of  the  ship  between 
me  and  my  object,  and  I  did  not  dare  quit  the  wheel  to  go  for 
ward,  lest  I  should  miss  it  altogether.  I  had  prepared  a  grap 
nel,  by  placing  a  small  kedge  in  the  lee-waist,  with  a  hawser 
bout,  and,  could  I  come  within  a  few  feet  of  the  floating  ham 


MILES     W  A  L  I,  I  N  G  F  O  H  D .  "31 

per,  I  felt  confident  of  being  able  to  hook  into  something.  It 
appeared  to  me,  now,  as  if  the  ship  absolutely  refused  to  move. 
Go  ahead  she  did,  notwithstanding,  though  it  was  only  her  own 
length  in  five  or  six  minutes.  My  hasty  glances  told  me  that 
two  more  of  these  lengths  would  effect  my  purpose.  I  scarce 
breathed,  lest  the  vessel  should  not  be  steered  with  sufficient 
accuracy.  It  was  strange  to  me  that  Marble  did  not  hail,  and, 
fancying  him  asleep,  I  shouted  with  all  my  energy,  in  order  to 
arouse  him.  "  What  a  joyful  sound  that  will  be  in  his  ears,"  I 
thought  to  myself,  though  to  me,  my  own  voice  seemed  un 
earthly  and  alarming.  No  answer  came.  Then  I  felt  a  slight 
shock,  as  if  the  cut-water  had  hit  something,  and  a  low  scraping 
sound  against  the  copper  announced  that  the  ship  had  hit  the 
wreck.  Quitting  the  wheel,  I  sprang  into  the  waist,  raising  the 
kedge  in  my  arms.  Then  came  the  upper  spars  wheeling  strong 
ly  round,  under  the  pressure  of  the  vessel's  bottom  against  the 
extremity  of  the  lower  mast.  I  saw  nothing  but  the  great  maze 
of  hamper  and  wreck,  and  could  scarcely  breathe  in  the  anxiety 
not  to  miss  my  aim.  There  was  much  reason  to  fear  the  whole 
mass  would  float  aft,  leaving  me  no  chance  of  throwing  the 
kedge,  for  the  smaller  masts  no  longer  inclined  in,  and  I  could 
see  that  the  ship  and  wreck  were  slowly  separating.  A  low 
thump  on  the  bottom,  directly  beneath  me,  drew  my  head  over 
the  side,  and  I  found  the  fore-yard,  as  it  might  be,  a-cock-bill, 
with  one  end  actually  scraping  along  the  ship's  bottom.  It  was 
the  only  chance  I  had,  or  Avas  likely  to  have,  and  I  threw  the 
kedge  athwart  it.  Luckily,  the  hawser,  as  it  tautened,  brought 
a  fluke  directly  under  the  yard,  within  the  Flemish  horse,  the 
brace-block,  and  all  the  other  ropes  that  are  fitted  to  a  lower 
yard-arm.  So  slow  was  the  motion  of  the  ship,  that  my  grapnel 
held,  and  the  entire  body  of  the  wreck  began  to  yield  to  the 
pressure.  I  now  jumped  to  the  jib  halyards  and  down-haul, 
getting  that  sail  reduced ;  then  I  half-brailed  the  spanker ;  this 
was  done  lest  my  hold  on  the  yard  should  give  way. 

I  can  say,  that  up  to  this  instant,  I  had  not  even  looked  for 
Marble.     So  intense  had  been  my  apprehensions  of  missing  the 


o32  MILES      WALLINGFOUn. 

wreck,  that  I  thought  of  nothing  else,  could  sec  nothing  else. 
Satisfied,  however,  that  my  fast  would  hold,  I  ran  forward  to 
look  down  on  the  top,  that  the  strain  of  the  hawser  had  brought 
directly  under  the  very  bow,  over  which  it  had  fallen.  It  was 
empty !  The  object  I  had  mistaken  for  Marble,  dead  or  asleep, 
was  a  part  of  the  bunt  of  the  main-topsail,  that  had  been  hauled 
down  over  the  top-rim,  and  secured  there,  either  to  form  a  sort 
of  shelter  against  the  breaking  seas,  or  a  bed.  Whatever  may 
have  been  the  intention  of  this  nest,  it  no  longer  had  an  occu 
pant.  Marble  had  probably  been  Avashed  away,  in  one  of  his 
adventurous  efforts  to  make  himself  more  secure  or  more  com 
fortable. 

The  disappointment  that  came  over  me,  as  I  ascertained  this 
fact,  was  scarcely  less  painful  than  the  anguish  I  had  felt  when 
I  first  saw  my  mate  carried  off  into  the"  ocean.  There  would 
have  been  a  melancholy  satisfaction  in  finding  his  body,  that 
we  might  have  gone  to  the  bottom  together,  at  least,  and  thus 
have  slept  in  a  common  grave,  in  the  depths  of  that  ocean  over 
which  we  had  sailed  so  many  thousands  of  leagues  in  company. 
I  went  and  threw  myself  on  the  deck,  regardless  of  my  own  fate, 
and  wept  in  very  bitterness  of  heart.  I  had  arranged  a  mattress 
on  the  quarter-deck,  and  it  was  on  that  I  now  threw  myself. 
Fatigue  overcame  me,  in  the  end,  and  I  fell  into  a  deep  sleep. 
As  my  recollection  left  me,  my  last  thought  was  that  I  should 
go  down  with  the  ship,  as  I  lay  there.  So  complete  was  the 
triumph  of  nature,  that  I  did  not  even  dream.  I  do  not  remem 
ber  ever  to  have  enjoyed  more  profound  and  refreshing  slum 
bers  ;  slumbers  that  continued  until  returning  light  awoke  me. 
To  that  night's  rest  I  am  probably  indebted,  under  God,  for 
having  the  means  of  relating  these  adventures. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  the  night  had  been  tran 
quil;  otherwise,  a  seaman's  ears  would  have  given  him  the 
alarm.  When  I  arose,  I  found  the  ocean  glittering  like  a  mirror, 
with  no  other  motion  than  that  which  has  so  often  been  likened 
to  the  slumbering  respiration  of  some  huge  animal.  The  wreck 
was  thumping  against  the  ship's  bottom,  announcing  its  prca- 


MILES     WALLINGPO11D.  333 

ence,  before  I  left  the  mattress.  Of  wind  tliere  was  literally  not 
a  breath.  Once  in  a  while,  the  ship  would  seem  to  come  up  to 
breathe,  as  a  heavy  ground-swell  rolled  along  her  sides,  and  the 
wash  of  the  element  told  the  circumstance  of  such  a  visit ;  else, 
all  was  as  still  as  the  ocean  in  its  infancy.  I  knelt  again,  and 
prayed  to  that  dread  Being,  with  whom,  it  now  appeared  to 
me,  I  stood  alone,  in  the  centre  of  the  universe. 

Down  to  the  moment  when  I  arose  from  my  knees,  the 
thought  of  making  an  effort  to  save  myself,  or  to  try  to  prolong 
existence  a  few  hours,  by  means  of  the  wreck,  did  not  occur 
to  me.  But  when  I  came  to  look  about  me,  to  note  the  tran 
quil  condition  of  the  ocean,  and  to  heed  the  chances,  small  as 
they  were,  that  offered,  the  love  of  life  was  renewed  within  me, 
and  I  seriously  set  about  the  measures  necessary  to  such  an 
end. 

The  first  stop  was  to  sound  the  pumps,  anew.  The  wrater 
had  not  gained  in  the  night  as  rapidly  as  it  had  gained  through 
out  the  preceding  day.  But  it  had  gained  ;  there  being  three 
feet  more  of  it  than  when  I  last  sounded — the  infallible  evidence 
of  the  existence  of  a  leak  that  no  means  of  mine  could  stop.  It 
wras,  then,  hopeless  to  think  of  saving  the  ship.  She  had  settled 
in  the  water,  already,  so  as  to  bring  the  lower  bolts  of  both  fore 
and  main-channels  awash ;  and  I  supposed  she  might  float  for 
four-and-twenty  hours  longer,  unless  an  injury  that  I  had  dis 
covered  under  the  larboard  cathead,  and  which  had  been  re 
ceived  from  the  wreck,  should  sooner  get  under  water.  It  ap 
peared  to  me  that  a  butt  had  been  started  there :  such  a  leak 
would  certainly  hasten  the  fate  of  the  vessel  by  some  hours, 
should  it  come  fairly  into  the  account. 

Having  made  this  calculation  as  to  the  time  I  had  to  do  itiri, 
I  set  seriously  about  the  job  of  making  provisions  with  my  raft. 
In  one  or  two  particulars,  I  could  not  much  improve  the  latter ; 
for,  the  yards  lying  underneath  the  masts,  it  rendered  the  last  as 
buoyant  as  was  desirable  in  moderate  weather.  It  struck  me, 
however,  that  by  getting  the  topgallant  and  royal-masts,  Avith 
their  yards,  in,  around  the  top,  I  might  rig  a  staging,  with  tho 


"34  MILES      WALLINGFOUD. 

aid  of  the  hatches,  that  would  not  only  keep  me  entirely  out  of 
water,  in  mild  weather,  but  which  would  contain  all  one  man 
could  consume,  in  the  way  of  victuals  and  drink,  for  a  month 
to  come.  To  this  object,  then,  I  next  gave  my  attention. 

I  had  no  great  difficulty  in  getting  the  spars  I  have  men 
tioned,  loose,  and  in  hauling  them  alongside  of  the  top.  It  was 
a  job  that  required  time  rather  than  strength ;  for  my  move 
ments  were  greatly  facilitated  by  the  presence  of  the  topmast- 
rigging,  which  remained  in  its  place,  almost  as  taut  as  when  up 
right.  The  other  rigging  I  cut,  and  having  got  out  the  fids  of 
the  two  masts,  one  at  a  time,  I  pushed  the  spars  through  their 
respective  caps  with  a  foot.  Of  course,  I  was  obliged  to  get 
into  the  water  to  work ;  but  I  had  thrown  aside  most  of  my 
clothes  for  the  occasion,  and  the  weather  being  warm,  I  felt 
greatly  refreshed  with  my  bath.  In  two  hours'  time  I  had  my 
topgallant-mast  and  yard  well  secured  to  the  top-rim  and  the 
caps,  having  sawed  them  in  pieces  for  the  purpose.  The  fast 
enings  were  both  spikes  and  lashings,  the  carpenter's  stores  fur 
nishing  plenty  of  the  former,  as  well  as  all  sorts  of  tools. 

This  part  of  the  arrangement  completed,  I  ate  a  hearty  break 
fast,  when  I  began  to  secure  the  hatches,  as  a  sort  of  floor,  on  my 
primitive  joists.  This  was  not  difficult,  the  hatches  being  long, 
and  the  rings  enabling  me  to  lash  them,  as  well  as  to  spike  them. 
Lonor  before  the  sun  had  reached  the  meridian,  I  had  a  stout 

O  ' 

little  platform,  that  was  quite  eighteen  inches  above  the  water, 
and  Avhich  was  surrounded  by  a  species  of  low  ridge-ropes,  so 
placed  as  to  keep  articles  from  readily  tumbling  off  it.  The 
next  measure  was  to  cut  all  the  sails  from  the  yards,  and  to  cut 
loose  all  the  rigging  and  iron  that  did  not  serve  to  keep  the 
wreck  together.  The  reader  can  easily  imagine  how  much  more 
buoyancy  I  obtained  by  these  expedients.  The  foresail  alone 
weighed  much  more  than  I  did  myself,  with  all  the  stores  I 
might  have  occasion  to  put  on  my  platform.  As  for  the  fore- 
topsail,  there  was  little  of  it  left,  the  canvas  having  mostly  blown 
from  the  yard,  before  the  mast  went. 

My  raft  was  completed  by  the  time  I  felt  the  want  of  dinner; 


MILES      AVALLINGFORD.  3o5 

and  a  very  good  raft  it  was.  The  platform  Avas  about  ten  feet 
square,  and  it  now  floated  quite  two  feet  clear  of  the  water. 
This  was  not  much  for  a  sea ;  but,  after  the  late  violent  gale,  I 
had  some  reason  to  expect  a  continuation  of  comparatively  good 
weather.  I  should  not  have  been  a  true  seaman  not  to  have  be 
thought  me  of  a  mast  and  a  sail.  I  saved  the  fore-royal-mast, 
and  the  yard,  with  its  canvas,  for  such  a  purpose ;  determining 
to  rig  them  when  I  had  nothing  else  to  do.  I  then  ate  my  din 
ner,  which  consisted  of  the  remnants  of  the  old  cold  meat  and 
fowls  I  could  find  among  the  cabin  eatables. 

This  meal  taken,  the  duty  that  came  next  was  to  provision 
my  raft.  It  took  but  little  time  or  labor.  The  cabin  stores 
were  quite  accessible ;  and  a  bag  of  pilot-bread,  another  of  that 
peculiarly  American  invention,  called  crackers,  some  smoked 
beef,  a  case  of  liquors,  and  two  breakers  of  water,  formed  my 
principal  stock.  To  this  I  added  a  pot  of  butter,  Avith  some 
capital  smoked  herrings,  and  some  anchovies.  We  lived  well  in 
the  cabin  of  the  Dawn,  and  there  was  no  difficulty  in  making 
all  the  provision  that  six  or  eight  men  would  have  needed  for  a 
month.  Perceiving  that  -the  raft,  now  it  was  relieved  from  the 
weight  of  the  sails  and  rigging,  Avas  not  much  affected  by  the 
stores,  I  began  to  look  about  me  in  quest  of  any  thing  valuable 
I  might  Avish  to  save.  The  preparations  I  had  been  making  cre 
ated  a  sort  of  confidence  in  their  success;  a  confidence  (hope 
might  be  the  better  Avord)  that  Avas  as  natural,  perhaps,  as  it 
Avas  unreasonable.  I  examined  the  different  objects  that  offer 
ed,  Avith  a  critical  comparison  of  their  Araluc  and  future  useful 
ness,  that  Avould  have  been  absurd,  had  it  not  afforded  a  mel 
ancholy  proof  of  the  tenacity  of  our  desires  in  matters  of  this 
nature.  It  is  certainly  a  sad  thing  to  abandon  a  ship  at  sea, 
with  all  her  appliances,  and  Avith  a  knoAvledge  of  the  gold  that 
she  cost.  The  Dawn,  Avith  her  cargo,  must  have  stood  me  in 
eighty  thousand  dollars,  or  even  more;  and  here  Avas  I  about  to 
quit  her,  out  on  the  ocean,  Avith  an  almost  moral  certainty  that 
not  a  cent  of  the  money  could  be,  or  Avould  be,  recovered  from 
the  insurers.  These  last  only  took  risks  against  the  accidents 


336  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

of  tlic  ocean,  fire  included ;  and  there  was  a  legal  obligation  on 
the  insured  to  sec  that  the  vessel  was  properly  found  and  man 
ned.  It  was  my  own  opinion  that  no  accident  would  have  oc 
curred  to  the  ship,  in  the  late  gale,  had  the  full  crew  been  on 
board ;  and  that  the  ship  was  not  sufficiently  manned  was,  in  a 
legal  sense,  my  own  fault.  I  was  bound  to  let  the  English  carry 
her  into  port,  and  to  await  judgment — the  law  supposing  that 
justice  would  have  been  done  in  the  premises.  The  law  might 
have  been  greatly  mistaken  in  this  respect;  but  potentates  never 
acknowledge  their  blunders.  If  I  was  wronged  in  the  detention, 
the  law  presumed  suitable  damages.  It  is  true,  I  might  be 
ruined  by  the  delay,  through  the  debts  left  behind  me  ;  but  the 
law,  with  all  its  purity,  cared  nothing  for  that.  Could  I  have 
shown  a  loss  by  means  of  a  falling  market,  I  might  have  ob 
tained  redress,  provided  the  court  chose  to  award  it,  and  pro 
vided  the  party  did  not  appeal ;  or,  if  he  did,,  that  the  sub 
sequent  decisions  supported  the  first;  and  provided — all  the 
decrees  being  in  my  favor — my  Lord  Harry  Dermond  could 
have  paid  a  few  thousands  in  damages :  a  problem  to  be  solved 
in  itself. 

I  always  carried  to  sea  with  me  a  handsome  chest,  that  I  had 
bought  in  one  of  my  earlier  voyages,  and  which  usually  con 
tained  my  money,  clothes,  and  other  valuables.  This  chest  I 
managed  to  get  on  deck,  by  the  aid  of  a  purchase,  and  over  the 
ship's  side,  on  the  raft.  It  was  much  the  most  troublesome 
task  I  had  undertaken.  To  this  I  added  my  writing-desk,  a 
mattress,  two  or  three  counterpanes,  and  a  few  other  light  arti 
cles,  which  it  struck  me  might  be  of  use — but  which  I  could 
cast  into  the  sea  at  any  moment,  should  it  become  necessary. 
When  all  this  was  done,  I  conceived  that  my  useful  preparations 
were  closed. 

It  was  near  night,  and  I  felt  sufficiently  fatigued  to  lie  down 
and  sleep.  The  water  had  gained  very  slowly  during  the  last 
few  hours,  but  the  ship  was  now  swimming  so  low,  that  I  thought 
it  unsafe  to  remain  in  the  vessel,  while  asleep.  I  determined, 
therefore,  to  take  my  leave  of  her,  and  go  on  the  raft  for  that 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D  .  337 

purpose.  It  struck  me,  too,  it  might  be  unsafe  to  be  too  near 
the  vessel  when  she  Avent  down,  and  I  had  barely  time  to  get 
the  spars  a  short  distance  from  the  ship,  before  darkness  would 
come.  Still,  I  was  unwilling  to  abandon  the  Dawn  altogether, 
since  the  spars  that  stood  on  board  her,  would  always  be  a  more 
available  signal  to  any  passing  vessel,  than  the  low  sail  I  could 
set  on  the  raft.  Should  she  float  during  the  succeeding  day, 
they  would  increase  the  chances  of  a  rescue,  and  they  offered  an 
advantage  not  to  be  lightly  thrown  away. 

To  force  the  spars  away  from  the  ship  was  not  an  easy  task 
of  itself.  There  is  an  attraction  in  matter,  that  is  known  to 
bring  vessels  nearer  together  in  calms,  and  I  had  this  principle 
of  nature  first  to  overcome ;  then  to  neutralize  it,  without  the 
adequate  means  for  doing  either.  Still  I  was  very  strong,  and 
possessed  all  the  resources  of  a  seaman.  The  raft,  too,  now  its 
length  was  reduced,  was  much  more  manageable  than  it  had 
been  originally,  and  in  rummaging  about  the  'twixt-decks  I  had 
found  a  set  of  oars  belonging  to  the  launch,  which  had  been 
stowed  in  the  steerage,  and  which  of  course  were  preserved. 
These  I  had  taken  to  the  raft,  to  strengthen  my  staging,  or 
deck,  and  two  of  them  had  been  reserved  for  the  very  purpose 
to  which  they  were  now  applied. 

Cutting  away  the  kedge,  then,  and  casting  off  the  other  ropes 
I  had  used  with  which  to  breast-to  the  raft,  I  began  to  shove 
off,  just  as  the  sun  was  dipping.  So  long  as  I  could  pull  by  the 
ship,  I  did  very  well,  for  I  adopted  the  expedient  of  hauling 
astern,  instead  of  pushing  broad  off,  under  the  notion  that  I 
might  get  a  better  drift,  if  quite  from  under  the  lee  of  the  ves 
sel,  than  if  lying  on  her  broadside.  I  say  the  "  lee,"  though 
there  wasn't  a  breath  of  air,  nor  scarcely  any  motion  of  the  wa 
ter.  I  had  a  lino  fast  to  a  stern-davit,  and  placing  myself  with 
my  feet  braced  against  the  chest,  I  soon  overcame  the  vis  inertice 
of  the  spars,  and,  exerting  all  my  force,  when  it  was  once  in 
motion,  I  succeeded  in  giving  the  raft  an  impetus  that  carried  it 
completely  past  the  ship.  .  I  confess  I 'felt  no  personal  apprehen 
sion  from  the  suction,  suppo.-in";  the  ship  to  sink  while  the  raft 
15 


338  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

was  in  absolute  contact  with  it,  but  the  agitation  of  the  water 
might  weaken  its  parts,  or  it  might  wash  most  of  my  stores 
away.  This  last  consideration  induced  me,  now,  to  go  to  work 
with  the  oars,  and  try  to  do  all  I  could,  by  that  mode  of  pro 
pelling  my  dull  craft.  I  worked  hard  just  one  hour,  by  my 
watch ;  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  the  nearest  end  of  the 
raft,  or  the  lower  part  of  the  foremast,  was  about  a  hundred 
yards  from  the  Dawn's  taffrail.  This  was  a  slow  movement, 
and  did  not  fail  to  satisfy  me,  that,  if  I  were  to  be  saved  at  all, 
it  would  be  by  means  of  some  passing  vessel,  and  not  by  my 
own  progress. 

Overcome  by  fatigue,  I  now  lay  down  and  slept.  I  took  no 
precautions  against  the  wind's  rising  in  the  night ;  firstly,  because 
I  thought  it  impossible  from  the  tranquil  aspects  of  the  heavens 
and  the  ocean ;  and  secondly,  because  I  felt  no  doubt  that  the 
wash  of  the  water  and  the  sound  of  the  winds  would  arouse  me, 
should  it  occur  differently.  As  on  the  previous  night,  I  slept 
sweetly,  and  obtained  renewed  strength  for  any  future  trials. 
As  on  the  preceding  morning,  too,  I  was  awaked  by  the  warm 
rays  of  the  rising  sun  falling  on  my  face.  On  first  awaking,  I 
did  not  know  exactly  where  I  was.  A  moment's  reflection,  how 
ever,  sufficed  to  recall  the  past  to  my  mind,  and  I  turned  to  ex 
amine  my  actual  situation. 

I  looked  for  the  ship  toward  the  end  of  the  mast,  or  in  the 
direction  where  I  had  last  seen  her,  but  she  was  not  visible. 
The  raft  had  swung  round  in  the  night,  I  thought,  and  I  bent 
my  eyes  slowly  round  the  entire  circle  of  the  horizon,  but  no 
ship  was  to  be  seen.  The  Dawn  had  sunk  in  the  night,  and  so 
quietly  as  to  give  no  alarm !  I  shuddered,  for  I  could  not  but 
imagine  what  would  have  been  my  fate,  had  I  been  aroused  from 
the  sleep  of  the  living  only  to  experience  the  last  agony  as  I 
passed  away  into  the  sleep  of  the  dead.  I  cannot  describe  the 
sensation  that  came  over  me  as  I  gazed  around,  and  found  my 
self  on  the  broad  ocean,  floating  on  a  little  deck  that  was  only 
ten  feet  square,  and  which  was  raised  less  than  two  feet  above 
the  surface  of  the  waters.  It  was  now  that  I  felt  the  true  frailty 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  339 

of  my  position,  and  comprehended  all  its  dangers.  Before,  it 
had  been  shaded  by  the  ship,  as  it  might  be,  and  I  had  found  a 
species  of  protection  in  her  presence.  But  the  whole  truth  now 
stood  before  me.  Even  a  moderate  breeze  would  raise  a  sea 
that  could  not  fail  to  break  over  the  staging,  and  which  must 
sweep  every  thing  away.  The  spars  had  a  specific  lightness,  it 
is  true,  and  they  Avould  never  sink,  or  if  they  did  sink,  it  would 
only  be  at  the  end  of  ages,  when  saturated  with  water  and  cov 
ered  with  barnacles ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  they  possessed 
none  of  the  buoyancy  of  a  vessel,  and  could  not  rise  above  the 
rolling  waters  sufficiently  to  clear  their  breakers. 

These  were  not  comfortable  reflections ;  they  pressed  on  my 
mind  even  while  engaged  at  my  morning  devotions.  After  per 
forming,  in  the  best  manner  I  could,  this  never-ceasing  duty,  I 
ate  a  little,  though  I  must  admit  it  was  Avith  a  small  appetite. 
Then  I  made  the  best  stowage  I  could  of  my  effects,  and  rigged 
and  stepped  the  mast,  hoisting  the  sail  as  a  signal  to  any  vessel 
that  might  appear.  I  expected  wind  ere  long,  nor  was  I  disap 
pointed — a  moderate  breeze  springing  up  from  the  north-west 
about  nine  o'clock.  This  air  was  an  immense  relief  to  me  in 
more  ways  than  one.  It  cooled  my  person,  which  was  suffering 
from  the  intense  heat  of  a  summer's  sun  beating  directly  on  a 
boundless  expanse  of  water,  and  it  varied  a  scene  that  otherwise 
possessed  an  oppressively -wearisome  sameness.  Unfortunately, 
this  breeze  met  me  in  the  bows ;  for  I  had  stepped  my  mast  in 
the  foremast,  lashed  it  against  the  bottom  of  the  top,  which  it 
will  be  remembered  was  now  perpendicular,  and  stayed  it  to  the 
mast-heads  and  dead-eyes  of  the  topmast-rigging,  all  of  which 
remained  as  when  erect,  though  now  floating  on  the  water.  I 
intended  the  fractured  part  of  the  foremast  for  my  cut-water, 
and,  of  course,  had  to  ware  ship  before  I  could  gather  any  way. 
This  single  manoeuvre  occupied  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  my  braces, 
tacks,  and  sheets  not  working  particularly  well.  At  the  end  of 
that  time,  however,  I  got  round,  and  laid  my  yard  square. 


340  MILES      WALLINGFOUn. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

"There  was  speech  in  their  dumbness,  language  in  their  very  gesture ;  they  looked, 
as  they  had  heard  of  a  world  ransomed,  or  one  destroyed.  A  notable  passion  of  wonder 
appeared  in  them;  but  the  wisest  beholder,  that  knew  no  more  but  seeing,  could  not 
say,  if  the  importance  wcro  joy,  or  sorrow;  but  in  the  extremity  of  the  one,  it  must 
needs  be."  WINTER'S  TALE. 

As  soon  as  the  raft  got  fairly  before  the  wind,  and  the  breeze 
had  freshened,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining  what  it 
would  do.  The  royal  was  a  large  one,  and  it  stood  well.  I  had 
brought  a  log-line  and  the  slow-glass  with  me,  as  well  as  my 
quadrant,  slate,  etc.,  and  began  to  think  of  keeping  a  reckoning. 
I  had  supposed  the  ship  to  be,  when  it  fell  calm,  about  two  hun 
dred  miles  from  the  land,  and  I  knew  her  to  be  in  latitude 
48°  37".  The  log-line  told  rne  the  raft  moved  through  the 
water,  all  that  forenoon,  at  the  rate  of  about  half  a  knot  in  the 
hour;  and  could  I  keep  on  for  fifteen  or  sixteen  days,  in  a 
straight  course,  I  might  yet  hope  to  get  ashore.  I  was  not  so 
weak,  however2  as  to  expect  any  such  miracle  to  be  wrought  in 
my  favor,  though,  had  I  been  in  the  trades,  the  thing  might 
have  occurred.  By  cutting  adrift  the  two  yards,  or  by  getting 
them  fore  and  aft,  in  a  line  with  the  water,  my  rate  of  sailing 
might  be  doubled ;  and  I  began  seriously  to  think  of  effecting 
this  great  change.  Cut  the  yards  adrift  I  did  not  like  to  do, 
their  support  in  keeping  me  out  of  water  being  very  important. 
By  hauling  on  the  lift,  I  did  get  them  in  a  more  oblique  posi 
tion,  and  in  a  measure  thus  lessened  their  resistance  to  the  ele 
ment.  I  thought  that  even  this  improvement  made  a  differ 
ence  of  half  a  knot  in  my  movement.  Nevertheless,  it  was? 
tedious  work  to  be  a  whole  hour  in  going  less  than  a  single 
mile,  when  two  hundred  remained  to  be  travelled,  and  the  risks 
uf  the  ocean  were  thus  constantly  impending  over  one  ! 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  311 

What  a  day  was  that !  It  blew  pretty  frcsli  at  one  time,  and 
[  began  to  tremble  for  my  staging,  or  deck,  which  got  washed 
several  times,  though  the  topsail-yard  made  for  it  a  sort  of  lee, 
and  helped  to  protect  it.  Toward  the  decline  of  the  day,  the 
wind  went  down,  and  at  sunset  every  thing  was  as  tranquil  as  it 
had  been  the  previous  evening.  I  thought  I  might  have  been 
eight' or  nine  miles  from  the  spot  where  the  Dawn  went  down, 
without  computing  the  influence  of  the  currents,  which  maj 
have  set  me  all  that  distance  back  again,  or  so  much  f art-he i 
ahead,  for  any  thing  I  knew  of  the  matter.  At  sunset  I  took 
an  anxious  survey  of  the  horizon,  to  see  if  any  sail  were  in  sight; 
but  nothing  was  visible. 

Another  tranquil  night  gave  me  another  tranquil  night's  rest. 
I  call  the  last  tranquil,  as  it  proved  to  be  in  one  sense,  though  I 
was  sorely  troubled  with  dreams.  Had  I  been  suffering  for 
nourishment,  I  certainly  should  have  dreamed  of  food  ;  but  such 
not  being  the  case,  my  thoughts  took  the  direction  of  home  and 
friends.  Much  of  the  time,  I  lay  half  asleep  and  half  awake ; 
then  my  mind  would  revert  to  my  sister,  to  Lucy,  to  Mr.  Hardinge, 
and  to  Clawbonny — which  I  fancied  already  in  the  possession 
of  John  Wallingford,  who  was  triumphing  in  his  ownership,  and 
the  success  of  his  arts.  Then  I  thought  Lucy  had  purchased 
the  place,  and  was  living  there  with  Andrew  Drewett,  in  a  hand 
some  new  house,  built  in  the  modern  taste.  By  modern  taste, 
I  do  not  mean  one  of  the  Grecian-temple  school,  as  I  do  not 
think  that  even  all  the  vagaries  of  a  diseased  imagination,  that 
was  suffering  under  the  calamities  of  shipwreck,  could  induce 
me  to  imagine  Lucy  Ilardinge  silly  enough  to  desire  to  live  in 
such  a  structure. 

Toward  morning,  I  fell  into  a  doze,  the  fourth  or  fifth  renewal 
of  my  slumbers  that  night ;  and  I  remember  that  I  had  that 
sort  of  curious  sensation  which  apprises  us  itself,  it  was  a  dream. 
In  the  course  of  the  events  that  passed  through  my  mind,  I 
fancied  I  overheard  Marble  and  Neb  conversing.  Their  voices 
were  low,  and  solemn,  as  I  thought ;  and  the  words  so  distinct, 
that  I  still  remember  every  syllable. 


342  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  No,  Neb,"  said  Marble,  or  seemed  to  say,  in  a  most  sorrow 
ful  tone,  one  I  had  never  heard  him  use  even  in  speaking  of  his 
hermitage.  "  There  is  little  hope  for  Miles,  now.  I  felt  as  if 
the  poor  boy  was  lost  when  I  saw  him  swept  away  from  me, 
by  them  bloody  spars  striking  adrift,  and  set  him  down  as  one 
gone  from  that  moment.  You've  lost  an  A  No.  1  master,  Mis 
ter  Neb,  I  can  tell  you,  and  you  may  sarve  a  hundred  before 
you  fall  in  with  his  like  ag'in." 

"  I  nebber  sarvc  anoder  gentleum,  Misser  Marble,"  returned 
the  black ;  "  dat  as  sartain  as  gospel.  I  born  in  'e  Wallingford 
family,  and  I  lib  an'  die  in  'e  same  family,  or  I  don't  want  to  lib 
and  die,  at  all.  My  real  name  be  Wallingford,  dough  folk  do 
call  me  Clawbonny." 

"Ay,  and  a  slim  family  it's  got  to  be,"  rejoined  the  mate. 
"  The  nicest,  and  the  handsomest,  and  the  most  virtuous  young 
woman  in  all  York  state,  is  gone  out  of  it,  first :  I  knew  but 
little  of  her ;  but,  how  often  did  poor  Miles  tell  me  all  about 
her ;  and  how  he  loved  her,  and  how  she  loved  him,  and  the 
like  of  all  that,  as  is  becoming ;  and  something  in  the  way  that 
I  love  little  Kitty,  my  niece  you  know^Neb,  only  a  thousand 
times  more  ;  and  hearing  so  much  of  a  person  is  all  the  same, 
or  even  better,  than  to  know  them  up  and  down,  if  a  body  wants 
to  feel  respect  with  all  his  heart.  Secondly,  as  a  person  would 
say,  now  there's  Miles,  lost  too,  for  the  ship  is  sartainly  gone 
down,  Neb :  otherwise,  she  would  have  been  seen  floating  here 
abouts,  and  we  may  log  him  as  a  man  lost  overboard." 

"  P'rhaps  not,  Misser  Marble,"  said  the  negro.  "  Masser  Mile 
swim  like  a  fish,  and  he  isn't  the  gentleum  to  give  up  as  soon  as 
trouble  come.  P'rhaps  he  swimming  about  all  dis  time." 

"  Miles  could  do  all  that  man  could  do,  Neb,  but  he  can't 
swim  two  hundred  miles — a  South-Sea  man  might  do  something 
like  that,  I  do  suppose,  but  they're  onaccountably  web-footed. 
No,  no,  Neb ;  I  fear  we  shall  have  to  give  him  up.  Providence 
swept  him  away  from  us,  like,  and  we've  lost  him.  All's  me — 
well,  I  loved  that  boy  better,  even,  than  a  Yankee  loves  cucum 
bers." 


MILES      "WALLINGFORD.  343 

This  may  be  thought  an  odd  comparison  to  cross  a  drowsy 
imagination,  but  it  was  one  Marble  often  made  ;  and  if  eating 
the  fruit,  morning,  noon  and  night,  will  vindicate  its  justice,  the 
mate  stood  exonerated  from  every  thing  like  exaggeration. 

"  Ebbrybody  lub  Masser  Mile,"  said  the  warm-hearted  Neb, 
or  I  thought  he  so  said.  "  I  nebber  see  dat  we  can  go  home  to 
good  old  Masser  Ilardinge,  and  tell  him  how  we  lose  Masser 
Mile !" 

"  It  will  be  a  hard  job,  Neb,  but  I  greatly  fear  it  must  be 
done.  However,  we  will  now  turn  in  and  try  to  catch  a  nap, 
for  the  wind  will  be  rising  one  of  these  times,  and  then  we  shall 
have  need  of  keeping  our  eyes  wide  open." 

After  this  I  heard  no  more  ;  but  every  word  of  that  which  I 
have  related,  sounded  as  plainly  in  my  ears  as  if  the  speakers 
were  within  fifty  feet  of  me.  I  lay  in  the  same  state,  some  time 
longer,  endeavoring,  as  I  was  curious  myself,  of  catching,  or 
fancying,  more  words  from  those  I  loved  so  well ;  but  no  more 
came.  Then  I  believe  I  fell  into  a  deeper  sleep,  for  I  remember 
no  more,  for  hours. 

At  dawn  I  awoke,  the  care  on  my  mind  answering  for  a  call. 
This  time,  I  did  not  wait  for  the  sun  to  shine  in  my  eyes,  but, 
of  the  two,  I  rather  preceded  than  awaited  the  return  of  the 
light.  On  standing  erect,  I  found  the  sea  as  tranquil  as  it  had 
been  the  previous  night,  and  there  was  an  entire  calm.  It  was 
still  so  dusky  that  a  little  examination  was  necessary  to  be  cer 
tain  nothing  was  near.  The  horizon  Avas  scarcely  clear,  though, 
making  my  first  look  toward  the  east,  objects  were  plainest  in 
that  quarter  of  the  ocean.  I  then  turned  slowly  round,  exam 
ining  the  vast  expanse  of  water  as  I  did  so,  until  my  back  was 
toward  the  approaching  light,  and  I  faced  the  west.  I  thought 
I  saw  a  boat  within  ten  yards  of  me !  At  first,  I  took  it  for 
illusion,  and  rubbed  my  eyes  to  make  sure  that  I  was  awake. 
There  it  was,  however,  and  another  look  satisfied  me  it  was  my 
own  launch,  or  that  in  which  poor  Neb  had  been  carried  over 
board.  What  was  more,  it  was  floating  in  the  proper  manner, 
appeared  buoyant,  and  had  two  masts  rigged.  It  is  true,  that 


344  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

it  looked  dusky,  as  objects  appear  just  at  dawn,  but  it  was  suffi 
ciently  distinct.  I  could  not  be  mistaken;  it  was  my  own 
launch,  thus  thrown  within  my  reach,  by  the  mercy  of  divine 
Providence  ! 

This  boat,  then,  had  survived  the  gale,  and  the  winds  and  cur 
rents  had  brought  it  and  the  raft  together.  "What  had  become 
of  Neb  ?  He  must  have  rigged  the  masts,  for  none  were  step 
ped,  of  course,  \vhen  the  boat  wras  in  the  chocks.  Masts,  and 
sails,  and  oars  were  always  kept  in  the  boat,  it  is  true  ;  but  the 
first  could  not  be  stepped  without  hands.  A  strange,  wild  feel 
ing  came  over  me,  as  a  man  might  be  supposed  to  yield  to  the 
appearance  of  supernatural  agencies,  and  almost  without  intend 
ing  it,  I  shouted  "  boat  ahoy  !" 

"  Yo  hoy !"  answered  Marble ;  "  who  hails  ?" 

The  form  of  the  mate  appeared  rising  in  the  boat ;  at  the 
next  instant,  Neb  stood  at  his  side.  The  conversation  of  th-c 
previous  night  had  been  real,  and  those  whom  I  had  mourned 
as  lost  stood  within  thirty  feet  of  me,  hale,  hearty,  and  un 
harmed.  The  boat  and  raft  had  approached  each,  other  in  the 
darkness  ;  and,  as  I  afterward  learned,  the  launch,  having  fanned 
along  for  several  hours  of  the  night,  stopped  for  want  of  wind 
nearly  where  I  now  saw  her,  and  where  the  dialogue,  part  of 
which  I  overheard  while  half  asleep,  had  taken  place.  Had  the 
launch  continued  on  its  course  only  ten  yards  further,  it  would 
have  hit  the  fore-topmast.  That  attraction  of  which  I  have  al 
ready  spoken,  probably  kept  the  boat  and  raft  near  each  other 
throughout  the  night,  and  quite  likely  had  been  slowly  drawing 
them  together  while  we  slept. 

It  would  not  be  easy  to  say  which  party  was  the  most  aston 
ished  at  this  recognition.  There  was  Marble,  whom  I  had  sup 
posed  washed  off  the  raft,  safe  in  the  launch  ;  and  here  was  I, 
whom  the  other  two  had  thought  to  have  gone  down  in  the 
ship,  safe  on  the  raft !  We  appeared  to  have  changed  places, 
without  concert  and  without  expectation  of  ever  again  meeting. 
Though  ignorant  of  the  means  through  which  all  this  had  been 
brought  abcut,  I  very  well  know  what  we  did,  as  soon  as  each 


MILES      W  AL  L  I  N  G  F  O  BD.  345 

man  was  certain  that  he  saw  the  other  standing  before  him  in 
the  flesh.  We  sat  down  and  wept  like  three  children.  Then 
Neb,  too  impatient  to  wait  for  Marble's  movements,  threw  him 
self  into  the  sea,  and  swam  to  the  raft.  When  he  got  on  the 
staging,  the  honest  fellow  kissed  my  hands,  again  and  again, 
blabbering  the  whole  time  like  a  girl  of  three  or  four  years  of 
age.  This  scene  was  interrupted  only  by  the  expostulations  and 
proceedings  of  the  mate. 

"  What's  this  you're  doing,  you  bloody  nigger  ?"  cried  Mar 
ble.  "  Desarting  your  station,  and  leaving  me  here,  alone,  to 
manage  this  heavy  launch,  by  myself.  It  might  be  the  means 
of  losing  all  hands  of  us  again,  should  a  hurricane  spring  up 
suddenly,  and  wreck  us  over  again." 

The  truth  was,  Marble  began  to  be  ashamed  of  the  weakness 
he  had  betrayed,  and  was  ready  to  set  upon  any  thing,  in  order 
to  conceal  it.  Neb  put  an  end  to  this  sally,  however,  by  plung 
ing  again  into  the  water,  and  swimming  back  to  the  boat,  as 
readily  as  he  had  come  to  the  raft. 

"  Ay,  here  you  are,  Neb,  nigger-like,  and  not  knowing  wheth 
er  to  stay  or  to  go,"  growled  the  mate,  busy  the  whole  time  in 
shipping  two  oars.  "  You  put  me  in  mind  of  a  great  singer  I 
once  heard  in  Liverpool ;  a  chap  that  would  keep  shaking  and 
quavering  at  the  end  of  a  varsc,  in  such  a  style  that  he  some 
times  did  not  know  whether  to  let  go  or  to  hold  on.  It  is  onbe- 
coming  in  men  to  forget  themselves,  Neb ;  if  we  have  found 
him  we  thought  to  be  lost,  it  is  no  reason  for  dcsarting  our  sta 
tions,  or  losing  our  wits — Miles,  my  dear  boy,"  springing  on  the 
raft,  and  sending  Neb  adrift  again,  all  alone,  by  the  backward 
impetus  of  the  leap — "  Miles,  my  dear  boy,  God  be  praised  for 
this  !"  squeezing  both  my  hands  as  in  a  vice — "  I  don't  know 
how  it  is- — but  ever  since  I've  fallen  in  with  my  mother  and  lit- 
i!e  Kitty,  I've  got  to  be  womanish.  I  suppose  it's  what  you  call 
domestic  affection." 

I  fere  Marble  gave  in  once  more,  blubbering  jrst  as  hard  as 
Neb  himself  had  done. 

A  few  minutes  later,  all  three  began  to  know  what  we  were 


346  MILES      AVALLINGFORD. 

about.  The  launch  Avas  hauled  up  alongside  of  the  stage,  and 
we  sat  on  the  latter,  relating  the  manner  in  which  each  of  us  had 
been  saved.  First,  then,  as  to  Neb :  I  have  already  told  the 
mode  in  which  the  launch  was  swept  overboard,  and  I  inferred 
its  loss  from  the  violence  of  the  tempest,  and  the  height  of  the 
seas  that  were  raging  around  us.  It  is  true,  neither  Marble  nor 
I  samany  thing  of  the  launch  after  it  sunk  behind  the  first  hill 
of  water  to  leeward,  for  we  had  too  much  to  attend  to  on  board 
the  ship,  to  have  leisure  to  look  about  us.  But  it  seems  the 
black  was  enabled  to  maintain  the  boat  the  right  side  up,  and, 
by  baling,  to  keep  her  afloat.  He  drove  to  leeward,  of  course, 
and  the  poor  fellow  described  in  vivid  terms  his  sensations,  as 
he  saw  the  rate  at  which  he  Avas  driving  away  from  the  ship, 
and  the  manner  in  which  he  lost  sight  of  her  remaining  spars. 
As  soon  as  the  wind  Avould  permit,  however,  he  stepped  the 
masts,  and  set  the  two  Inggs,  close  reefed,  making  stretches  of 
three  or  four  miles  in  length,  to  windward.  This  timely  de 
cision  Avas  the"  probable  means  of  saving  all  our  lives.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  hours,  after  he  had  got  the  boat  under  com 
mand,  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  fore-royal-masts  sticking  out 
from  the  cap  of  a  sea,  and  watching  it  eagerly,  he  next  per 
ceived  the  whole  of  the  raft,  as  it  came  up  on  the  same  swell, 
with  Marble,  half  drowned,  lashed  to  the  top.  It  Avas  quite  an 
hour  before  Neb  could  get  near  enough  to  the  raft,  or  spars,  to 
make  Marble  conscious  of  his  presence,  and  some  time  longer  ere 
he  could  get  the  sufferer  into  the  boat.  This  rescue  did  not  oc 
cur  one  minute  too  soon,  for  the  mate  admitted  to  me  he  AVHS 
half  droAvned,  and  that  he  did  not  think  he  could  have  held  out 
much  longer,  when  Neb  took  him  into  the  boat. 

As  for  food  and  Avatcr,  they  fared  Avell  enough.  A  breaker 
of  fresh  Avater  was  kept  in  each  boat,  by  my  standing  orders,  and 
it  seems  that  the  cook,  Avho  Avas  a  bit  of  an  epicure  in  his  Avay, 
Avas  in  the  habit  of  stowing  a  bag  of  bread,  and  certain  choice 
pieces  of  beef  and  pork,  in  the  boAvs  of  the  launch,  for  his  OAVH 
special  benefit.  All  these  Neb  had  found,  somcAvhat  the  Avorse 
for  salt  water,  it  is  true,  but  still  in  a  condition  to  be  eaten. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  347 

There  was  sufficient  in  the  launch,  therefore,  when  we  thus  inct, 
to  sustain  Marble  and  Neb  in  good  heart  for  a  week. 

As  soon  as  the  mate  was  got  off  the  raft,  he  took  direction 
of  the  launch.  Unluckily,  he  made  a  long  stretch  to  the  north 
ward,  intending  to  tack  and  cross  what  he  supposed  must  have 
been  the  position  of  the  ship,  and  come  to  my  relief.  While 
the  launch  was  thus  working  its  way  to  windward,  I  fell  in  with, 
and  took  possession  of,  the  raft,  as  has  been  described.  Mar 
ble's  calculation  was  a  good  one  in  the  main,  but  it  brought  him 
near  the  Dawn  the  night  she  sank,  and  the  raft  and  boat  were 
both  too  low  to  be  seen  at  any  distance,  the  one  from  the  other. 
It  is  probable  we  were  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  miles  asun 
der  the  most  of.  the  day  I  was  on  the  raft,  Marble  putting  up 
his  helm  to  cross  the  supposed  position  of  the  ship,  about  three 
in  the  afternoon.  This  brought  him  down  upon  the  raft  about 
midnight,  when  the  conversation  I  have  related  took  place, 
within  a  few  yards  of  me,  neither  party  having  the  least  notion 
of  the  proximity  of  the  other. 

I  was  touched  by  the  manner  in  which  Marble  and  Neb  spoke 
of  my  supposed  fate.  Neither  seemed  to  remember  that  he  was 
washed  away  from  a  ship,  but  appeared  to  fancy  that  I  was 
abandoned  alone  on  the  high  seas  in  a  sinking  vessel.  While  I 
had  been  regretting  their  misfortunes,  they  had  both  thought, 
of  me  as  the  party  to  be  pitied,  each  fancying  his  own  fortune 
more  happy  than  mine.  In  a  word,  their  concern  for  me  was 
i;o  great,  that  they  altogether  forgot  to  dwell  on  the  hardships 
and  dangers  of  their  own  particular  cases.  I  could  not  express 
all  I  felt  on  the  occasion,  but  the  events  of  that  morning,  and 
the  feelings  betrayed  by  my  two  old  shipmates,  made  an  im 
pression  on  my  heart  that  time  has  not,  nor  ever  can,  efface. 
Most  men  who  had  been  washed  overboard,  would  have  fancied 
themselves  the  suffering  party  ;  but  during  the  remainder  of  the 
long  interco  irse  that  succeeded,  both  Marble  and  Neb  always  al 
luded  to  this  occurrence  as  if  I  were  the  person  lost  and  rescued. 

We  were  an  hour  or  more  intently  occupied  in  these  explana 
tions,  before  either  recollected  the  future.  Then  I  felt  it  was 


3-18  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

time  to  have  some  thought  for  our  situation,  which  was  suffi 
ciently  precarious  as  it  was,  though  Marble  and  Neb  made  light 
of  any  risks  that  remained  to  be  run.  I  was  saved,  as  it  might 
be,  by  a  miracle,  and  that  was  all  that  they  could  remember  just 
then.  But  a  breeze  sprang  up  from  the  eastward,  as  the  suu 
appeared,  and  the  agitation  of  the  raft  soon  satisfied  me  that 
my  berth  would  have  been  most  precarious  had  I  not  been  so 
providentially  relieved.  It  is  true,  Marble  made  light  of  the 
present  state  of  things,  which,  compared  to  those  into  which  he 
had  been  so  suddenly  launched,  without  food,  water,  or  pro 
visions  of  any  sort,  was  a  species  of  paradise.  Nevertheless,  no 
time  was  to  be  wasted,  and  we  had  a  long  road  to  travel  in  the 
boat,  ere  we  could  deem  ourselves  in  the  least  safe. 

My  two  associates  had  got  the  launch  in  as  good  order  as  cir 
cumstances  would  allow.  But  it  wanted  ballast  to  carry  sail  hard, 
and  they  had  felt  this  disadvantage,  particularly  Neb,  when  ho 
first  got  the  boat  on  a  wind.  I  could  understand,  by  his  account 
of  the  difficulties  and  dangers  he  experienced,  though  it  came 
out  incidentally,  and  without  the  smallest  design  to  magnify  his 
own  merits,  that  nothing  but  his  undying  interest  in  me  could 
have  prevented  him  from  running  off  before  the  wind  in  order 
to  save  his  own  life.  An  opportunity  now  offered  to  remedy 
this  evil,  and  we  went  to  work  to  transfer  all  the  effects  I  had 
placed  on  the  stage,  to  the  launch.  They  made  a  little  cargo 
that  gave  her  stability  at  once.  As  soon  as  this  was  done  \ve 
entered  the  boat,  made  sail,  and  hauled  close  on  a  wind,  under 
reefed  luggs,  it  beginning  to  blow  smartly  in  puffs. 

I  did  not  part  from  the  raft  without  melancholy  regrets.  The 
materials  of  which  it  was  composed  were  all  that  now  remained 
of  the  Dawn.  Then  the  few  hours  of  jeopardy  and  loneliness  I 
had  passed  on  it,  were  not  to  be  forgotten.  They  still  recur 
vividly  to  my  thoughts  with  deep,  and,  I  trust,  profitable  reflec 
tions.  The  first  hour  after  we  cast  off,  we  stood  to  the  south 
ward.  The  wind  continuing  to  increase  in  violence,  and  the  sea 
to  get  up,  until  it  blew  too  fresh  for  the  boat  to  make  any  head 
way,  or  even  to  hold  her  own  against  it,  Marble  thought  ho 


MILES     WALLIKGFORD.  349 

might  do  better  on  the  other  tack — having  some  reason  to  sup 
pose  there  was  a  current  setting  to  the  southward  and  eastward 
— and  we  wore  round.  After  standing  to  the  northward  for 
a  sufficient  length  of  time,  we  again  fell  in  with  the  spars — a 
proof  that  we  were  doing  nothing  toward  working  our  way  to 
windward.  I  determined,  at  once,  to  make  fast  to  them,  and 
use  them  as  a  sort  of  floating  anchor,  so  long  as  the  foul  wind 
lasted.  We  had  some  difficulty  in  effecting  this  object;  but  we 
finally  succeeded  in  getting  near  enough  under  the  lee  of  the  top 
to  make  fast  to  one  of  its  eye-bolts — using  a  small  bit  of  hawser 
that  was  in  the  boat  for  that  purpose.  The  boat  was  then  drop 
ped  a  sufficient  distance  to  leeward  of  the  spars,  where  it  rode 
head  to  sea,  like  a  duck.  This  was  a  fortunate  expedient ;  as  it 
came  on  to  blow  hard,  and  we  had  something  very  like  a  little 
gale  of:  wind. 

As  soon  as  the  launch  was  thus  moored,  we  found  its  advan 
tage.  It  shipped  no  more  water,  or  very  little,  and  we  were 
not  compelled  to  be  on  the  look-out  for  squalls,  which  occurred 
every  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  with  a  violence  that  it  would  not  do 
to  trifle  with.  The  weather  thickened  at  these  moments ;  and 
there  were  intervals  of  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  when  we  could 
not  see  a  hundred  yards  from  the  boat,  on  account  of  the  driz 
zling,  misty  rain  that  filled  the  atmosphere.  There  we  sat,  con 
versing  sometimes  of  the  past,  sometimes  of  the  future,  a  bubble 
in  the  midst  of  the  raging  waters  of  the  Atlantic,  filled  with  the 
confidence  of  seamen.  With  the  stout  boat  we  possessed,  the 
food  and  water  we  had,  I  do  not  think  either  now  felt  any  great 
concern  for  his  fate ;  it  being  possible,  in  moderate  weather,  to 
ran  the  launch  far  enough  to  reach  an  English  port  in  about  a 
week.  Favored  by  even  a  tolerably  fair  wind,  the  object  might 
be  effected  in  even  two  or  three  days. 

"I  take  it  for  granted,  Miles,"  Marble  remarked,  as  we  pursued 
our  discourse,  "  that  your  insurance  will  completely  cover  your 
whole  loss.  You  did  not  forget  to  include  freight  in  the  risks?" 

"  So  far  from  this,  Moses,  I  believe  myself  to  be  nearly  or 
quite  a  ruined  man.  The  loss  of  the  ship  is  unquestionably 


350  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

o.wing  to  llic  act  of  tlic  Speedy,  united  to  our  own,  in  setting 
those  Englishmen  adrift  on  the  ocean.  No  insurers  will  meet  a 
policy  that  has  thus  been  voided." 

"Ah  !  the  blackguards  !  This  is  worse  than  I  had  thought ; 
but  you  can  always  make  a  harbor  at  Clawbonny." 

1  was  on  the  point  of  explaining  to  Marble  how  I  stood  in  re 
lation  to  the  paternal  acres,  when  a  sort  of  shadow  was  sudden 
ly  cast  on  the  boat,  and  I  fancied  the  rushing  of  the  water 
seemed  to  be  increased  at  the  same  instant.  We  all  three  sat 
with  our  faces  to  leeward,  and  all  turned  them  to  windward  un 
der  a  common  impulse.  A  shout  burst  from  Marble's  throat, 
and  a  sight  met  my  eyes  that  caused  the  blood  to  rush  in  a  tor 
rent  through  my  heart.  Literally  within  a  hundred  feet  of  us, 
was  a  large  ship,  ploughing  the  ocean  with  a  furrow  that  rose 
to  her  hawse-holes,  and  piling  before  her,  in  her  track,  a  mound 
of  foam,  as  she  came  down  upon  us,  with  topmast  and  lower 
studding-sails  set — overshadowing  the  sea  like  some  huge  cloud. 
There  was  scarcely  time  for  more  than  a  glance,  ere  the  ship 
was  nearly  upon  us.  As  she  rose  on  a  swell,  her  black  sides 
came  up  out  of  the  ocean,  glittering  and  dripping,  and  the  line 
of  frowning  guns  seemed  as  if  just  lacquered.  Neb  was  in  the 
bow  of  the  launch,  while  I  was  in  the  stern.  My  arm  was  ex 
tended  involuntarily,  or  instinctively  would  be  the  better  word, 
to  avert  the  danger,  when  it  seemed  to  me  that  the  next  send 
of  the  ship  would  crush  us  beneath  the  bright  copper  of  her 
bottom.  Without  Neb's  strength  and  presence  of  mind,  we  had 
been  lost  beyond  a  hope ;  for  swimming  up  to  the  spars  against 
the  sea  that  was  on,  would  have  been  next  to  hopeless ;  and 
even  if  there,  without  food,  or  water,  our  fate  would  have  been 
sealed.  But  Neb  seized  the  hawser  by  which  we  were  riding, 
and  hauled  the  launch  ahead  her  length,  or  more,  before  the 
frigate's  larboard  bower-anchor  settled  down  in  a  way  that  men 
aced  crushing  us.  As  it  was,  I  actually  laid  a  hand  on  .the  muz 
zle  of  the  third  gun,  while  the  ship  went  foaming  by.  At  the 
next  instant  she  was  past ;  and  we  were  safe.  Then  all  three 
of  us  shouted  together.  Until  that  moment,  none  in  the  frigate 


MILES     W  AL  L  IN  G  F  O  II  D.  351 

were  aware  of  our  vicinity.  But  the  shout  gave  the  alarm,  and 
as  the  ship  cleared  us,  her  taffrail  was  covered  witl  officers. 
Among  them  was  one  gray-headed  man,  whom  I  recognized  by 
his  dress  for  the  captain.  He  made  a  gesture,  turning  an  arm 
upward,  and  I  knew  an  order  was  given  immediately  after,  by 
the  instantaneous  manner  in  which  the  taffrail  was  cleared. 

"  By  George  !"  exclaimed  Marble,  "  I  had  a  generalizing  time 
of  it,  for  half  a  dozen  seconds,  Miles." 

"  There  was  more  risk,"  I  answered,  "  than  time  to  reflect  on 
it.  However,  the  ship  is  about  to  round-to,  and  we  shall  be 
picked  up  at  last.  Let  us  thank  God  for  this." 

It  was  indeed  a  beautiful  sight  for  a  seaman  to  note  the  man 
ner  in  which  that  old  captain  handled  his  vessel.  Although  we 
found  the  wind  and  sea  too  much  for  a  boat  that  had  to  turn  to 
windward,  neither  was  of  much  moment  to  a  stout  frigate,  that 
carried  fifty  guns,  and  which  w7as  running  off  with  the  wind  on 
her  quarter. 

She  was  hardly  past  us  when  I  could  see  preparations  making 
to  take  in  canvas.  At  the  instant  she  overshadowed  us  with 
her  huge  wings,  this  vessel  had  topgallant-sails  set,  with  two  top 
mast  and  a  lower  studding-sail,  besides  carrying  the  lee-clew  of 
her  mainsail  down,  and  the  other  customary  cloth  spread.  Up 
went  her  mainsail  almost  as  soon  as  the  captain  made  the  signal 
with  his  arm ;  then  all  three  of  the  topgallant-sails  were  flying  at 
the  same  moment.  Presently,  the  yards  were  alive  with  men, 
and  the  loose  canvas  was  rolled  up,  and  the  gaskets  passed. 
While  this  was  doing,  down  came  all  the  studding-sails  togeth 
er,  much  as  a  bird  shuts  its  wings.  The  booms  disappeared 
immediately  after. 

"  Look  at  that,  Miles  1"  cried  the  delighted  Marble.  "  Although 
a  bloody  Englishman,  that  chap  leaves  nothing  to  be  done  over 
again.  He  puts  every  thing  in  its  place,  like  an  old  woman 
stowing  away  her  needles  and  thread.  I'll  warrant  you,  the  old 
blade  is  a  keen  one !" 

"The  ship  is  well  handled,  certainly,  and  her  people  woik 
like  mariners  who  are  trying  to  save  the  lives  of  mariners." 


352  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

While  this  was  passing  between  us,  the  frigate  was  stripped 
to  her  three  topsails,  spanker,  jib,  and  fore-course.  Down  came 
her  yards  next,  and  then  they  were  covered  with  blue-jackets, 
like  bees  clustering  around  a  hive.  We  had  scarcely  time  to 
note  this,  ere  the  men  lay  in,  and  the  yards  were  up  again  with 
the  sails  reefed.  This  was  no  sooner  done,  than  the  frigate, 
which  had  luffed  the  instant  the  saeerino;-sails  were  in,  was  trim- 

O  ' 

med  close  on  a  wind,  and  began  to  toss  the  water  over  her  sprit- 
sail-yard  as  she  met  the  waves  like  one  that  paid  them  no  heed. 
No  sooner  was  the  old  seaman  who  directed  all  this  assured  of 
the  strength  of  the  wind  he  had  to  meet,  than  down  went  his 
mainsail  again,  and  the  tack  was  hauled  aboard. 

The  stranger  was  then  under  the  smartest  canvas  a  frigate  can 
cany — reefs  in  her  topsails,  with  the  courses  set.  Her  sail  could 
be  shortened  in  an  instant,  yet  she  was  under  a  press  of  it,  more 
than  an  ordinary  vessel  would  presume  to  carry,  perhaps,  in  so 
strong  a  breeze. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  jeopardy  from  which  we  had  just 
escaped,  and  the  imminent  hazard  so  lately  run,  all  three  of  us 
watched  the  movements  of  the  frigate  with  as  much  satisfaction 
as  a  connoisseur  would  examine  a  fine  painting.  Even  Neb  let 
several  nigger  expressions  of  pleasure  escape  him. 

By  the  time  sail  could  be  shortened  and  the  ship  hauled  close 
on  a  Avind,  the  frigate  was  nearer  half  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
off.  We  had  to  wait,  therefore,  until  she  could  beat  up  to  the 
place  where  we  lay.  This  she  soon  did,  making  one  stretch  to 
the  southward  until  in  a  line  with  the  boat,  when  she  tacked 
and  came  toward  us  with  her  yards  braced  up,  but  having  the 
wind  nearly  abeam.  As  she  got  within  a  cable's  length,  both 
courses  were  hauled  up,  and  left  hanging  in  the  brails.  Then 
the  noble  craft  came  rolling  by  us  in  the  trough,  passing  so  near 
that  we  might  be  spoken.  The  old  officer  stood  in  the  weather 
gangway  with  a  trumpet,  and  he  hailed  when  near  enough  to  be 
heard.  Instead  of  asking  questions  to  satisfy  his  own  curiosity, 
he  merely  communicated  his  own  intentions.  * 

"  Til  heave-to,  when  past  you,"  he  cried  out,  "  waring  ship  tc 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  353 

do  so.     You  can  then  drop  down  under  my  stern,  as  close  as 
possible,  and  we'll  throw  you  a  rope." 

I  understood  the  plan,  which  was  considerate,  having  a  regard 
to  the  feebleness  of  our  boat's  crew,  and  the  weight  of  the  boat 
itself.  Accordingly,  when  she  had  room  enough,  the  frigate 
wore,  hauling  up  close  on  the  other  tack,  and  laying  her  main- 
yard  square.  As  soon  as  the  ship  was  stationary,  Neb  cast  oft' 
the  hawser,  and  Marble  and  he  manned  two  oars.  We  got  the 
boat  round  without  much  risk,  and,  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to 
write  it,  were  sending  down  toward  the  ship  at  a  furious  rate. 
I  steered,  and  passed  so  near  the  frigate's  rudder,  that  I  thought, 
for  an  instant,  I  had  gone  too  close.  A  rope  was  hove  as  we 
cleared  the  lee-quarter  of  the  frigate,  and  the  people  on  board 
hauled  its  alongside.  We  caught  the  man-ropes,  and  were  soon 
on  the  quarter-deck.  A  respectable-looking,  elderly  man,  of  a 
square,  compact  frame,  and  a  fine  ruddy  English  face,  in  a  post 
captain's  undress,  received  me,  with  an  extended  hand,  and  a 
frank,  generous,  hearty  manner. 

"  You  are  welcome  on  board  the  Briton,"  he  said  warmly ; 
"  and  I  thank  God  that  he  has  put  it  in  our  power  to  relieve 
you.  Your  ship  must  have  been  lost  quite  recently,  as  you  do 
not  seem  to  have  suffered.  When  you  feel  equal  to  it,  I  should 
like  to  hear  the  name  of  your  vessel,  and  the  particulars  of  her 
disaster.  I  suppose  it  was  in  the  late  blow,  which  was  a  whack 
er,  and  did  lots  of  mischief  along  the  coast.  I  see  you  are  Amer 
icans,  and  that  your  boat  is  New  York  built ;  but  all  men  in  dis 
tress  are  countrymen." 

This  was  a  hearty  reception,  and  one  I  had  every  reason  to 
extol.  So  long  as  I  staid  with  Captain  Rowley,  as  this  officer 
was  named,  I  had  no  reason  to  complain  of  any  change  in  his 
deportment.  Had  I  been  his  son,  he  could  not  have  treated  me 
more  kindly,  taking  me  into  his  own  cabin,  and  giving  me  a 
scat  at  his  own  table.  I  gave  him  an  outline  of  what  had  hap 
pened  to  us,  not  deeming  it  necessary  to  relate  the  affair  with 
the  Speedy,  however ;  simply  mentioning  the  manner  in  which 
we  had  escaped  from  a  French  privateer,  'and  leaving  him  to  in- 


354 


MILES     WALLINGFOKD. 


for,  should  he  sec  fit,  that  the  rest  of  our  crew  had  been  carried 
away  on  that  occasion.  My  reserve  on  the  subject  of  the  other 
capture,  the  reader  will  at  once  sec,  was  merely  a  necessary  piece 
of  prudent  caution. 

Captain  Rowley  had  no  sooner  heard  my  story,  which  I  made 
as  short  as  possible,  knowing  that  Marble  and  Neb  had  been 
cautioned  on  the  subject,  than  he  again  took  my  hand,  and  wel 
comed  me  to  his  ship.  The  mate  was  sent  into  the  gun-room, 
and  recommended  to  the  hospitality  of  the  lieutenants ;  while 
Neb  was  placed  in  the  care  of  the  cabin  servants.  A  short  con 
sultation  was  then  held  about  the  boat,  which  it  was  decided 
must  be  sent  adrift,  after  its  effects  were  passed  out  of  it ;  the 
Briton  having  no  use  for  such  a  launch,  nor  any  place  to  stow 
it.  I  stood  at  the  gangway,  and  looked  with  a  melancholy  eye 
at  this  last  remnant  of  the  Dawn  that  I  ever  beheld :  a  large 
eighty  thousand  dollars  of  my  property  vanishing  from  the  earth, 
in  the  loss  of  that  ship  and  her  cargo. 


^ 


MILES      WALLING  FORD. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

"Some  shout  at  victory's  loud  acclaim, 

Some  fall  that  victory  to  assure, 
But  time  divulges  that  in  name, 
Alone,  our  triumphs  are  secure." 

Duo. 

THE  Briton  had  come  out  of  the  Cove  of  Cork,  only  a  few 
days  before,  and  Avas  bound  on  service,  with  orders  to  run  off  to 
the  westward,  a  few  hundred  miles,  and  to  cruise  three  months 
in  a  latitude  that  might  cover  the  homcward-boiind  running 
ships,  from  the  American  provinces,  of  which  there  were  many 
in  that  early  period  of  the  war.  This  was  not  agreeable  news 
to  us,  Avho  had  hoped  to  be  landed  somewhere  immediately,  and 
who  had  thought,  at  first,  on  seeing  the  ship  carrying  a  press  of 
sail  to  the  westward,  that  she  might  be  going  to  Halifax.  There 
was  no  remedy,  however,  and  we  were  fain  to  make  the  best  of 
circumstances.  Captain  Rowley  promised  to  put  us  on  board 
the  first  vessel  that  offered,  and  that  was  as  much  as  we  had  a 
right  to  ask  of  him. 

More  than  two  months  passed  without  the  Briton's  speaking, 
or  even  seeing,  a  single  sail !  To  these  vicissitudes  is  the  sea 
man  subject ;  at  one  time  he  is  in  the  midst  of  craft,  at  another 
the  ocean  seems  deserted  to  himself  alone.  Captain  Rowley 
ascribed  this  want  of  success  to  the  fact  that  the  Avar  was  indu 
cing  the  running  ships  to  collect  in  convoys,  and  that  his  orders 
carried  him  too  far  north  to  permit  his  falling  in  Avith  the  Amer 
icans  bound  to  and  from  Liverpool.  Whatever  may  have  been 
the  reason,  hoAvever,  the  result  Avas  the  same  to  us.  After  the 
gale  of  the  equinox,  the  Briton  stood  to  the  southward,  as  far  as 
Madeira,  such  a  change  of  ground  being  included  in  her  instruc- 


350  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

tions ;  and  thence,  after  cruising  tlirec  weeks  in  tlic  ncighbor- 
hood  of  that  island,  she  shaped  her  course  for  Plymouth.  In 
the  whole,  the  frigate  had,  at  that  time,  brought -to  and  boarded 
some  thirty  sail,  all  of  whom  were  neutrals,  and  not  one  of 
whom  was  bound  to  a  port  that  would  do  us  any  good.  The 
ship's  water  getting  low,  we  were  now  compelled  to  go  in,  and, 
as  has  been  said,  we  made  sail  to  the  northward.  The  after 
noon  of  the  very  day  the  Briton  left  her  second  cruising  ground, 
a  strange  ship  was  seen  directly  on  her  course,  which  was  pro 
nounced  to  be  a  frigate,  before  the  sun  set. 

The  Briton,  manoeuvred  all  night  to  close  with  the  stranger, 
and  with  success,  as  he  was  only  a  league  distant,  and  a  very 
little  to  windward  of  her,  when  I  went  on  deck  early  the  next 
morning.  I  found  the  ship  clear  for  action,  and  a  degree  of 
animation  pervading  the  vessel,  that  I  had  never  before  witness 
ed.  The  people  were  piped  to  breakfast  just  as  I  approached 
the  captain  to  salute  him  with  a  "  good  morning." 

"  Good  morning  to  you,  Wallingforcl,"  cried  the  old  man,  in 
a  cheerful  way ;  "  you  are  just  in  time  to  take  a  look  at  yonder 
Frenchman  in  his  glory.  Two  hours  hence  I  hope  he'll  not 
appear  quite  as  much  of  a  beau  as  he  is  at  this  moment.  She's 
a  noble  craft,  is  she  not,  and  quite  of  our  own  force." 

"As  for  the  last,  sir,"  I  answered,  "there  does  not  seem 
much  to  choose — she  is  what  you  call  a  thirty-eight,  and  mounts 
iifty  guns,  I  dare  say.  Is  she  certainly  French  ?" 

"  As  certainly  as  this  ship  is  English.  She  can  do  nothing 
with  our  signals,  and  her  rig  is  a  character  for  her.  Who  ever 
saw  an  Englishman  with  such  royal-masts  and  yards?  So, 
Master  Wallingford,  you  must  consent  to  take  your  breakfast  an 
hour  earlier  than  common,  or  go  without  it,  altogether.  Ah — • 
here  is  the  steward  to  say  it  waits  for  us." 

I  followed  Captain  Ftowlcy  to  the  cabin,  where  I  found  he 
had  sent  for  Marble,  to  share  our  meal.  The  kind-hearted  old 
gentleman  seemed  desirous  of  adding  this  act  of  civility  to  the 
hundred  others  that  he  had  already  shown  us.  I  had  received 
much  generous  and  liberal  treatment  from  Captain  Rowley,  but 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  35? 

never  before  had  lie  seemed  so  much  disposed  to  act  toward  me 
as  a  father  would  act  to  a  son,  as  on  that  morning. 

"  I  hope  you  have  done  justice  to  Davis' s  cookery,  gentle 
men,"  he  said,  after  the  assault  on  the  eatables  began  to  abate  a 
little  in  ardor,  "  for  this  may  be  the  last  opportunity  that  will 
offer  to  enjoy  it.  I  am  an  Englishman,  and  have  what  I  hope 
is  a  humble  confidence  in  the  superiority  of  an  English  over  a 
French  ship ;  but  I  very  well  know  we  never  get  even  a  French 
ship  without  working  for  it;  and  yonder  gentleman  may  not 
leave  us  any  crockery,  for  to-morrow.  He  evidently  means  to 
fight  us,  and  I  think  will  do  himself  credit." 

"  I  believe  you  English  always  go  into  action  against  the 
French  with  a  confidence  of  victory,"  I  remarked. 

"  Why,  we  have  brought  our  lads  up  to  that  feeling,  certainly, 
though  I  would  not  have  you  fancy  I  am  quite  of  that  way  of 
thinking.  I  am  too  old,  and  have  seen  too  much  service,  Wai- 

O  '  ' 

lingford,  not  to  know  that  every  battle  is  liable  to  accidents  and 
vicissitudes.  There  is  some  difference  in  service,  I  must  sup 
pose,  though  not  half  as  much  in  men  as  is  vulgarly  imagined. 
The  result  is  in  the  hands  of  God,  and  I  do  think  we  are  fighting 
his  battles,  in  this  fearful  war ;  therefore,  I  trust  he  will  take 
care  of  us." 

I  was  surprised  to  find  Captain  Rowley,  who  was  usually 
cheerful  and  gay,  talking  in  this  manner;  but  it  did  not  become 
me  to  pursue  the  subject.  In  a  minute  or  two,  we  rose  from 
table,  and  I  heard  the  order  given  to  the  steward  to  report 
to  the  first  lieutenant,  as  soon  as  the  table  was  cleared  away, 
that  the  cabin  bulkheads  might  be  removed.  Marble  and  I 
then  passed  below  into  a  canvas  berth  that  had  been  made  for 
him,  where  we  could  consult  together  without  danger  of  inter 
ruption.  Just  as  we  reached  the  place,  the  drum  beat  to  quar 
ters.  This  carried  nearly  every  one  else  on  deck,  and  left  us 
virtually  alone. 

"  Well,  Miles,"  commenced  Marble,  "  this  v'y'gc  will  beat 
any  other  of  our  v'y'ges,  and  give  it  fifty.  We  have  been  twice 
captured,  once  wrecked,  have  seen  a  fight,  and  arc  about  to  feel 


358  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

another.  What  do  you  think  patriotism  and  republican  vartoo 
require  us  to  do  in  such  a  crisis  ?" 

This  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  heard  my  mate  mention 
republicanism,  his  habits  being  certainly  as  much  opposed  to  lib 
erty  as  those  of  Napoleon  himself.  Although  the  reader  proba 
bly  will  not  understand  the  drift  of  his  question,  it  was  not  lost 
on  me.  I  answered,  therefore,  like  one  who  fully  comprehended 
him. 

"  I  am  afraid,  Moses,"  said  I,  "  there  is  very  little  republican 
ism  in  France  just  now,  nor  do  I  know  that  resemblance  in  gov 
ernments  makes  nations  friends.  Unless  the  resemblance  be 
complete,  I  rather  think  they  are  more  disposed  to  quarrel  about 
the  differences,  than  to  allow  the  merits  of  the  points  of  affin 
ity.  As  between  England  and  France,  however,  since  we  are  at 
peace  with  both,  we  Americans  have  nothing  to  do  with  their 
quarrels." 

"  I  thought  that  would  be  your  idee,  Miles,  and  yet  it  would 
be  awkward  to  be  in  the  midst  of  a  fight  and  take  no  part  in  it. 
I'd  give  a  hundred  dollars  to  be  on  board  that  Frenchman  this 
minute." 

"  Are  you  so  much  in  love  with  defeat  as  to  wisli  to  be  flog 
ged?" 

"  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  but  it  goes  ag'in  the  grain  to  take 
sides  with  a  John  Bull" 

"  There  is  no  necessity  for  taking  sides  with  either,  though 
we  can  remember  how  these  people  have  saved  our  lives,  how 
kind  they  have  been  to  us,  and  that  we  have  literally  lived  three 
months  on  their  bounty.  Neb,  I'm  glad  to  see,  makes  fair 
weather  of  it  on  the  berth-deck." 

"  Ay,  there's  more  in  that  than  you  dream  of,  perhaps.  Mr. 
Clements,  the  first  lieutenant  of  this  ship,  is  a  sly  one,  and  lie 
thinks  more  of  a  good  seaman  than  some  priests  do  of  piety.  If 
I'm  not  greatly  misled,  he  intends  that  Neb  shan't  quit  this  ship 
till  the  peace." 

"  How !  They  surely  cannot  pretend  that  the  black  is  an  Eng 
lishman?" 


MILES     ATALLINGFORD.  359 

"  There  are  all  kinds  of  Englishmen,  black  and  -white,  when 
seamen  grow  scarce.  Hows'ever,  there  is  no  use  in  looking  out 
for  the  worst ;  we  shall  know  all  about  it  when  the  ship  gets 
in.  How  are  we  to  behave,  Miles,  in  this  here  battle  ?  It  goes 
ag'in  my  feclin's  to  help  an  Englishman,  and  yet  an  old  salt 
don't  like  to  keep  under  hatches  while  powder  is  burning  on 
deck." 

"  It  would  be  wrong  for  either  of  us  to  take  any  part  in  the 
action,  since  we  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  quarrel.  Still,  we 
may  appear  on  deck,  unless  ordered  below,  and  I  dare  say  op 
portunities  will  offer  to  be  of  use,  especially  in  assisting  the  hurt. 
I  shall  go  on  the  quarter-deck,  but  I  would  advise  you  not  to 
go  higher  than  the  gun-deck.  As  for  Neb,  I  shall  formally  offer 
his  services  in  helping  to  carry  the  wounded  down." 

"  I  understand  you — we  shall  all  three  sarve  in  the  humane 
gang.  Well,  when  a  man  has  no  business  with  any  other,  that 
may  be  better  than  none.  Your  standing  idle  in  a  fight  must 
be  trying  work !" 

Marble  and  I  conversed  a  little  longer  on  this  subject,  when  a 
gun  fired  from  the  upper  deck  gave  us  notice  that  the  game  Avas 
about  to  begin.  Each  hastened  to  his  intended  post  without 
more  words.  When  I  reached  the  quarter-deck,  every  thing 
denoted  the  eve  of  a  combat.  The  ship  was  under  short  can 
vas,  the  men  were  at  quarters,  the  guns  were  cast  loose,  and 
were  levelled,  the  tompions  were  all  out,  shot  was  distributed 
about  the  deck,  and  here  and  there  some  old  salt  of  a  captain 
might  be  seen  squinting  along  his  gun,  as  if  impatient  to  begin. 
A  silence  like  that  of  a  deserted  church  reigned  throughout  the 
ship.  Had  one  been  on  board  her  intended  adversary  at  that 
same  instant,  he  would  have  been  deafened  by  the  clamor,  and 
confused  with  the  hurried  and  disorderly  manner  in  which  prep 
arations  that  were  long  before  completed  on  board  the  British, 
were  still  in  progress  on  board  the  Frenchman.  Four  years 
earlier,  the  same  want  of  preparation  had  given  Nelson  his  great 
victory  at  the  Nile.  The  French,  in  order  to  clear  their  outer 
batteries,  had  lumbered  those  in-sho-rc,  and  when  half  their  ene- 


360  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

mies  unexpectedly  passed  inside,  they  found  their  ships  were 
not  prepared  to  fire — ships  that  were  virtually  beaten  before 
they  had  discharged  an  effective  shot. 

"  Wallingford,"  said  my  old  friend  the  captain,  as  soon  as  I 
approached  him,  "  you  have  nothing  to  do  here.  It  would  not 
be  proper  for  you  to  take  a  part  in  this  action,  and  it  would  be 
folly  to  expose  yourself  without  an  object." 

"  I  am  quite  aware  of  all  this,  .Captain  Rowley,  but  I  have 
thought  your  kindness  to  me  was  so  great  as  to  permit  me  to 
be  a  looker-on.  I  may  be  of  some  service  to  the  wounded,  if 
to  nothing  else ;  and  I  hope  you  think  me  too  much  of  an 
officer  to  get  in  the  way." 

"  I  am  not  certain,  sir,  I  ought  to  permit  any  thing  of  the 
sort,"  returned  the  old  man,  gravely.  "  This  fighting  is  serious 
business,  and  no  one  should  meddle  with  it  whose  duty  does  not 
command  it  of  him.  See  here,  sir,"  pointing  at  the  French  frig 
ate,  which  was  about  two  cables'  lengths  distant,  with  her  top 
gallant-sails  clewed  up  and  the  courses  in  the  brails ;  "  in  ten 
minutes  we  shall  be  hard  at  it,  and  I  leave  it  to  yourself  to  say 
whether  prudence  does  not  require  that  you  should  go  below." 

I  had  expected  this,  and  instead  of  contesting  the  matter  I 
bowed,  and  walked  off  the  quarter-deck,  as  if  about  to  comply. 
"  Out  of  sight,  out  of  mind,"  I  thought ;  it  would  be  time 
enough  to  go  below  when  I  had  seen  the  beginning  of  the  affair. 
In  the  waist  I  passed  the  marines,  drawn  up  in  military  array, 
with  their  officer  as  attentive  to  dressing  them  in  lino  as  if  the 
victory  depended  on  its  accuracy.  On  the  forecastle  I  found 
Neb,  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  watching  the  manoeuvres  of 
the  French  as  the  cat  watches  those  of  the  mouse.  The  fellow's 
eye  was  alive  with  interest,  and  I  saw  it  was  useless  to  think  of 
sending  him  below.  As  for  the  officers,  they  had  taken  their 
cue  from  the  captain,  and  only  smiled  good-naturedly  as  I  passed 
them.  The  first  lieutenant,  however,  was  an  exception.  He 
never  had  appeared  well  disposed  toward  us,  and,  I  make  no 
doubt,  had  I  not  been  so  hospitably  taken  into  the  cabin,  we 
should  all  have  got  an  earlier  taste  of  his  humor. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  361 

"  There  is  too  much  good  stuff  in  that  fellow,"  he  dryly  re 
marked,  in  passing,  pointing  toward  Neb  at  the  same  time,  "  for 
him  to  be  doing  nothing  at  a  moment  like  this." 

"  We  arc  neutrals,  as  respects  France,  Mr.  Clements,"  I  an 
swered,  "  and  it  would  not  be  right  for  us  to  take  part  in  your 
quarrels.  I  will  not  hesitate  to  say,  hoAvever,  that  I  have  re 
ceived  so  much  kindness  on  board  the  Briton,  that  I  should  feel 
miserable  in  not  being  permitted  to  share  your  danger.  Some 
thing  may  turn  up  that  will  enable  me  to  be  of  assistance — ay, 
and  Neb,  too." 

The  man  gave  me  a  keen  look,  muttered  something  between 
his  teeth,  and  walked  aft,  whither  he  was  proceeding  when  AVC 
met.  I  looked  in  the  direction  in  which  he  went,  and  could  see 
he  was  speaking  in  a  surly  way  to  Captain  Rowley.  The  old 
gentleman  cast  a  look  forward,  shook  a  finger  at  me,  then 
smiled  in  his  benevolent  way,  and  turned,  as  I  thought,  to  look 
for  one  of  the  midshipmen  Avho  acted  as  his  aids.  At  that  mo 
ment  the  Frenchman  went  in  stays,  delivering  his  whole  broad 
side,  from  aft  forward,  as  the  guns  bore.  The  shot  told  on  the 
British  spars  smartly,  though  only  two  hulled  her.  As  a  matter 
of  course,  this  tamed  the  thoughts  of  Captain  Rowley  to  the 
main  business  in  hand,  and  I  Avas  forgotten.  As  for  Neb,  he 
immediately  made  himself  useful.  A  shot  cut  the  main-spring- 
stay  just  above  his  head,  and  before  I  had  time  to  speak,  the 
felloAv  seized  a  stopper,  and  caught  one  of  the  ends  of  the  stay, 
applied  the  stopper,  and  was  hard  at  work  in  bringing  the  rope 
into  its  proper  place,  and  in  preparing  it  again  to  bear  a  strain. 
The  boatsAvain  applauded  his  activity,  sending  tAvo  or  three  fore 
castle-men  to  help  him.  From  that  moment,  Neb  Avas  as  busy 
as  a  bee  aloft,  noAv  appearing  through  openings  in  the  smoke, 
on  this  yard-arm,  now  on  that,  his  face  on  a  broad  grin  Avhenever 
business  of  more  importance  than  common  Avas  to  be  done.  The 
Briton  might  have  had  older  and  more  experienced  seamen  at 
Avork  in  her  rigging  that  day,  but  not  one  that  Avas  more  active, 
more  ready  Avhcn  told  Avhat  to  do,  or  more  athletic.  The  gaite 
de  cceur  Avith  which  this  black  exerted  himself  in  the  midst  of 
1C 


302  MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  11  D . 

that  scene  of  strife,  clamor,  and  bloodshed,  has  always  presented 
itself  to  my  mind  as  truly  wonderful. 

Captain  Rowley  did  not  alter  his  course,  or  fire  a  gun,  in 
answer  to  the  salute  he  received,  though  the  two  ships  were 
scarcely  a  cable's  length  asunder  when  the  Frenchman  began. 
The  Briton  stood  steadily  on,  and  the  two  ships  passed  each 
other,  within  pistol-shot,  a  minute  or  two  later,  when  we  let  fly 
all  our  larboard  guns.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  real  war, 
and  warm  enough  it  was,  for  half  an  hour  or  more— our  ship 
coming  round  as  soon  as  she  had  fired,  when  the  two  frigates 
closed  broadside  and  broadside,  both  running  off  nearly  dead 
before  the  wind.  I  do  not  know  how  it  happened,  but  when 
the  head-yards  were  swung,  I  found  myself  pulling  at  the  fore- 
brace,  like  a  dray  horse.  The  master's  mate,  who  commanded 
these  braces,  thanked  me  for  my  assistance,  in  a  cheerful  voice, 
saying,  "  We'll  thrash  'cm  in  an  hour,  Captain  Wallingford." 
This  was  the  first  consciousness  I  had,  that  my  hands  had  en 
tered  into  the  affair  at  all ! 

I  had  now  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining  what  a  very  differ 
ent  thing  it  is  to  be  a  spectator  in  such  a  scene,  from  being  an 
actor.  Ashamed  of  the  forgetfulness  that  had  sent  me  to  the 
brace,  I  walked  on  the  quarter-deck,  where  blood  was  already 
flowing  freely.  Everybody,  but  myself,  was  at  work,  for  life  or 
death.  In  1803,  that  mongrel  gun,  the  carronade,  had  come 
into  general  use,  and  those  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Briton 
were  beginning  to  fly  round  and  look  their  owners  in  the  face, 
when  they  vomited  their  contents,  as  they  grew  warm  with  the 
explosion.  Captain  Rowley,  Clements,  and  the  master,  were  all 
here,  the  first  and  last  attending  to  the  trimming  of  the  sails, 
while  the  first  lieutenant  looked  a  little  after  the  battery,  and  a 
little  at  every  thing  else.  Scarce  a  minute  passed,  that  shot  did 
not  strike  somewhere,  though  it  was  principally  aloft ;  and  the 
wails  of  the  hurt,  the  revolting  part  of  every  serious  combat, 
began  to  mingle  in  the  roar  of  the  contest.  The  English,  I  ob 
served,  fought  sullenly,  though  they  fought  with  all  their  hearts. 
Occasionally,  a  cheer  would  arise  in  some  part  of  the  ship;  but 


MILES      AVALLINGFORD.  303 

these,  and  the  cries  of  the  hurt,  were  almost  all  the  sounds  that 
were  heard,  except  those  of  the  conflict,  with  an  occasional  call, 
or  a  word  of  encouragement  from  some  officer. 

"  Warm  work,  Wallingford !"  Captain  Rowley  said,  as  I  came 
close  upon  him  in  the  smoke.  "  You  have  no  business  here,  but 
I  like  to  see  the  face  of  a  friend,  notwithstanding.  You  have 
been  looking  about  you ;  how  do  you  think  it  is  going  ?" 

"  This  ship  will — must  beat,  Captain  Rowley.  Her  order 
:ind  regularity  are  most  beautiful." 

"  Ay — I'm  glad  to  hear  you  say  as  much,  Wallingford,  for  I 
know  you  are  a  seaman.  Just  go  down  on  the  gun-deck  and 
cast  an  eye  around  you ;  then  come  up,  and  tell  me  how  things 
look  there." 

Here  I  was,  fairly  enlisted  as  an  aid.  Down  I  went,  however, 
and  such  a  scene,  I  never  had  witnessed  before,  certainly.  Al 
though  the  season  had  well  advanced  into  the  autumn,  the 
weather  was  so  warm,  that  half  the  men  had  stripped  for  the 
toil — and  toil  it  is,  to  work  heavy  guns,  for  hours  at  a  time, 
under  the  excitement  of  battle  ;  a  toil  that  may  not  be  felt  at 
the  time,  perhaps,  but  which  leaves  a  weariness  like  that  of 
disease  behind  it.  Many  of  the  seamen  fought  in  their  trowsers 
alone ;  their  long,  hard  cues  lying  on  their  naked  backs,  which 
resembled  those  of  so  many  athletse,  prepared  for  the  arena. 
The  gun-deck  was  full  of  smoke,  the  pruning  burned  in-boavd 
producing  that  effect,  though  the  pOAvder  which  exploded  in  the 
guns  Avas  sent,  with  its  flames  and  sulphurous  Avreaths,  in  long 
lines  from  the  ports  toward  the  enemy.  The  place  appeared  a 
sort  of  pandemonium  to  me.  I  could  perceive  men  moving 
about  in  the  smoke,  rammers  and  sponges  Avhirling  in  their 
hands,  guns  reeling  inward,  ay,  even  leaping  from  the  deck, 
under  the  violence  of  the  recoils,  officers  signing  Avith  their 
swords  to  add  emphasis  to  their  orders,  boys  running  to  and 
fro  on  their  Avay  to  and  from  the  magazines,  shot  tossed  from 
hand  to  hand,  and  to  give  its  fiercest  character  to  all,  the  dead 
and  dying  Avcltering  in  their  blood,  amidships. 

Of  the  manoeuvres  of  this  combat,  I  know  scarcely  any  thing. 


364  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

My  attention  was  drawn  in-board ;  for  having  nothing  to  do,  1 
could  not  but  watch  the  effect  of  the  enemy's  fire  on  the  Briton, 
as  well  as  the  manner  in  which  the  English  repaid  all  they  re 
ceived.  While  standing  near  the  mainmast,  in  the  battery  that 
was  not  engaged,  Marble  made  me  out  in  the  smoke,  and  camo 
up  to  speak  to  me. 

"  Them  Frenchmen  are  playing  their  parts  like  men,"  he  said. 
"  There's  a  shot  just  gone  through  the  cook's  coppers,  and  an 
other  through  the  boats.  By  the  Lord  Harry,  if  the  boys  on 
this  deck  do  not  bestir  themselves,  we  shall  get  licked.  I 
wouldn't  be  licked  by  a  Frenchman  on  any  account,  Miles. 
Even  little  Kitty  would  point  her  finger  at  me." 

"  We  are  only  passengers,  you  know,  Moses ;  and  can  have 
little  concern  with  victory,  or  defeat,  so  long  as  the  striped  and 
starred  bunting  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  credit  of  the  thing." 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  of  that,  Miles.  I  do  not  like  being  flog 
ged,  even  as  a  passenger.  There!  just  look  at  that,  now  !  Two 
or  three  more  such  raps,  and  half  our  guns  will  be  silenced  !" 

Two  shot  had  come  in  together,  as  Marble  thus  interrupted 
himself ;  one  of  them  knocking  away  the  side  of  a  poit,  while 
the  other  laid  four  men  of  its  gun  on  the  deck.  This  gun  was 
on  the  point  of  being  discharged,  as  the  injury  was  inflicted ; 
but  the  loss  of  its  captain  prevented  it  from  being  fired.  The 
lieutenant  of  the  division  caught  the  match  from  the  fallen  sea 
man,  gave  it  a  puff  with  his  breath,  and  applied  it  to  the  prim 
ing.  As  the  gun  came  leaping  in,  the  lieutenant  turned  his 
head  to  see  where  he  could  best  find  men  to  supply  the  place  of 
those  who  had  been  killed,  or  wounded.  His  eyes  fell  on  us. 
He  asked  no  questions ;  but  merely  looked  in  our  direction. 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  said  Marble,  stripping  off  his  jacket,  and  tak 
ing  the  tobacco  from  his  mouth.  "  In  one  moment.  Just  hold 
on,  till  I'm  ready." 

I  scarce  knew  whether  to  remonstrate,  or  not ;  but  hard  at  it 
he  went;  and,  delighted  by  his  zeal,  the  officer  clapped  him  on 
the  back,  leaving  him  to  act  as  captain  of  the  gun.  Afraid  the 
contagion  might  extend  to  myself,  I  turned,  ascended  the  ladder, 


MILES      WALLING  FORD.  365 

and  was  immediately  on  the  quarter-deck  again.  Here  I  found 
old  Captain  Rowley,  with  his  hat  off,  cheering  his  men — the 
Frenchman's  main-topmast  having  just  gone  over  his  side.  It 
was  not  a  time  to  make  my  report,  nor  was  any  needed  just 
then  ;  so  I  walked  aft  as  far  as  the  taffrail,  in  order  to  get  out  of 
the  way,  and  to  make  my  observations  as  much  removed  from 
the  smoke  as  possible.  This  was  the  only  opportunity  I  enjoyed 
of  noting  the  relative  positions,  as  well  as  conditions,  of  the  two 
vessels. 

The  Briton  had  suffered  heavily  aloft ;  but  all  her  principal 
spars  still  stood.  On  the  other  hand,  her  antagonist  had  lost 
both  main  and  mizzen-topmasts,  and  her  fire  had  materially 
slackened  within  the  last  fifteen  minutes.  She  was  falling  more 
under  a  quarter-raking  fire,  too,  from  her  people's  losing  com 
mand  of  their  ship  ;  the  two  frigates  having,  some  time  before, 
come  by  the  wind — the  Englishman  a  little  on  the  Frenchman's 
weather-quarter.  As  is  usual,  in  a  heavy  cannonade  and  a 
moderate  breeze,  the  wind  had  died  away,  or  become  neutral 
ized,  by  the  concussions  of  the  guns,  and  neither  combatant 
moved  much  from  the  position  he  occupied.  Still  the  Briton 
had  her  yards  knowingly  braced,  while  those  of  her  enemy  were 
pretty  much  at  sixes  and  sevens.  Under  such  circumstances,  it 
was  not  difficult  to  predict  the  result  of  the  engagement ;  more 
especially  as  the  spirits  of  the  Britons  seemed  to  be  rising  with 
the  duration  of  the  combat. 

I  was  still  making  my  observations,  when  I  heard  the  crack 
of  a  shot,  and  the  ripping  of  plank,  on  the  forward  part  of  the 
quarter-deck.  A  little  group  collected  around  a  falling  man, 
and  I  thought  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  Captain  Rowley's  uniform 
and  epaulettes,  in  the  sufferer.  In  an  instant  I  was  on  the 
spot.  Sure  enough,  there  was  my  old  friend  grievously  wound 
ed.  Clements  was  also  there.  Catching  my  eye,  he  observed, 

"  As  you  are  doing  nothing,  sir,  Avill  you  assist  in  carrying 
Captain  Rowley  below  ?" 

I  did  not  like  the  manner  in  which  this  was  said,  nor  the  ex 
pression  of  the  first  lieutenant's  eye  while  saying  it.  They 


3G6  MILES      WALLINOFOKD. 

seemed  to  rue  to  add,  "  I  shall  now  command  this  ship,  and  we 
shall  sec  if  new  lords  don't  produce  new  laws."  I  complied, 
however,  of  course,  and,  aided  by  two  of  his  own  servants,  I 
got  the  poor  old  man  into  the  gun-room.  The  instant  the  sur 
geon  cast  his  eyes  on  the  injuries,  I  saw,  by  his  countenance, 
there  Avas  no  hope.  His  words  soon  confirmed  the  bad  news. 

"  The  captain  cannot  live  half  an  hour,"  this  gentleman  said 
to  me  aside,  "  and  all  we  can  do  will  be  to  give  him  what  ho 
asks  for.  At  present  he  is  stupefied  by  the  shock  of  the  blow, 
but,  in  a  few  minutes,  he  will  probably  ask  for  water,  or  wine  and 
water ;  I  wish,  sir,  you  would  indulge  him  in  his  Avishes,  for  you 
can  have  no  duty  to  call  you  on  deck.  This  will  be  a  lucky  hit 
for  Clements,  Avho  Avill  run  off  with,  more  than  half  the  credit  of 
the  battle,  though  I  fancy  the  Frenchman  has  as  much  as  he 
wants,  already." 

And  so  it  turned  out,  literally,  in  the  end.  About  twenty 
minutes  after  I  went  below,  during  which  time  the  Briton  did 
most  of  the  fighting,  AVC  heard  the  cheer  of  victory  on  deck. 
These  sounds  appeared  to  cause  the  Avounded  man  to  revive. 

"What  means  that,  Wallingford?"  he  asked  in  a  stronger 
voice  than  I  could  have  thought  it  possible  for  him  to  use. 
"  What  do  these  cheers  mean,  my  young  friend  ?" 

"They  mean,  Captain  RoAvlcy,  that  you  have  conquered — that 
you  are  master  of  the  French  frigate." 

"  Master ! — am  I  master  of  my  own  life  ?  Of  what  use  is  vic 
tory  to  me,  noAv?  I  shall  die — die  soon,  Wallingford,  and  there 
will  be  an  end  of  it  all !  My  poor  Avife  Avill  call  this  a  melan 
choly  victory." 

Alas !  what  could  I  say  ?  These  Avords  were  only  too  true  as 
respects  himself,  and,  I  dare  say,  as  respected  his  wife,  also.  Die 
he  did,  and  in  my  presence,  and  that  calmly,  Avith  all  his  senses 
about  him ;  but,  I  could  see,  he  had  his  doubts  Avhethcr  a  little 
lustre  like  that  Avhich  attended  his  end,  Avas  fulfilling  all  the  ob 
jects  of  his  being.  The  near  view  of  death  places  a  man  on  a 
moral  eminence,  Avhence  he  commands  prospects  before  and  bc- 
bind,  on  each  side  and  on  every  side,  enabling  him  to  overlook 


MILES      WALLINGFOKD.  307 

the  whole  scene  of  life  from  its  commencement  to  its  close,  and 
to  form  an  opinion  of  his  own  place  in  a  drama  that  is  about  to 
close.  Like  many  of  those  who  exhibit  themselves  for  our 
amusement,  and  to  purchase  our  applause,  he  is  only  too  apt 
to  quit  the  stage  less  satisfied  with  his  own  performances,  than 
the  thoughtless  multitude,  who,  regarding  merely  the  surfaces 
of  things,  are  too  often  loudest  in  their  approbation  when  there 
is  the  least  to  praise. 

I  shall  pass  over  the  next  ten  days,  with  a  very  brief  allusion 
to  their  events.  The  first  proof  I  had  of  Mr.  Clements  being 
commanding  officer,  was  my  being  transferred  from  the  cabin 
to  the  gun-room.  It  is  true,  there  was  no  want  of  space  in  my 
new  apartment,  for  officering  and  manning  the  prize  had  left 
several  state-rooms  vacant  in  the  Briton's  gun-room,  which  fell 
to  the  shares  of  the  French  prisoners  and  myself.  Poor  Captain 
Rowley  was  preserved  in  spirits ;  and  then  things  went  on  pret 
ty  much  as  before,  with  the  exception  that  our  crippled  condi 
tion  and  reduced  crew  rendered  us  no  longer  anxious  to  fall  in 
with  Frenchmen.  I  may  say,  in  this  place,  also,  that  now  the 
excitement  which  had  carried  him  away  was  gone,  Marble  was 
profoundly  ashamed  of  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  late  affair, 
lie  had  fought  under  English  colors,  once  more ;  and,  though  I 
seldom  dared  to  allude  to  the  thing,  it  is  my  opinion  he  heartily 
regretted  his  conduct,  to  his  dying  day.  As  for  Neb,  ah1  seem 
ed  right  enough  in  his  eyes ;  for,  though  he  well  understood  the 
distinctions  between  flags  and  countries,  he  always  imagined  it  a 
duty  to  stick  by  the  craft  in  Avhich  he  happened  to  be. 

Ten  days  after  I  had  been  living  under  the  regime  of  "  new 
lords  and  new  laws,"  we  fell  in  with  a  frigate,  in  the  chops  of 
the  Channel,  and  exchanged  signals  with  her.  The  reader  wili 
judge  of  Marble's  and  my  dissatisfaction,  when  we  heard  it  an 
nounced  that  the  ship  which  was  then  fast  approaching  us  was 
the  Speedy.  There  was  no  help  for  it,  however;  she  was  al 
ready  within  gunshot,  and  soon  rounded-to,  within  hail  of  the 
Briton,  which  ship  had  hovc-to,  to  wait  for  her.  In  a  few  imp 
utes,  Lord  Harry  Dcrmond,  in  person,  was  alongside  of  us,  in  a 


368  MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  O  F  O  R  D  . 

boat,  to  show  his  orders  to  Captain  Rowley,  and  report  himself, 
as  the  junior  captain.  I  could  not  quit  the  quarter-deck,  from  a 
desire  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  what  had  become  of  Sennit  and  his 
companions,  though  prudence  dictated  concealment. 

Clements  met  the  young  nobleman  at  the  gangway,  and,  apo.- 
ogizing  for  not  going  on  board  the  Speedy,  on  account  of  the 
state  of  his  boats,  reported  the  late  action  and  its  results.  Lord 
Harry  then  found  himself  the  senior,  instead  of  the  junior  com 
mander,  and  he  immediately  began  to  ask  questions.  lie  was 
in  the  midst  of  these  interrogatories,  when  his  eye  suddenly  fell 
on  me.  He  and  Clements  were  walking  on  the  quarter-deck  to 
gether,  and  I  had  gone  into  the  gangway,  to  escape  his  notice, 
when  this  unexpected  recognition  took  place.  It  occurred  as 
the  two  were  turning  in  their  walk,  and  were  so  near  me  that  I 
could  hear  what  was  said  between  them. 

"  "Who  have  you  there,  leaning  against  the  cutter,  Mr.  Clem 
ents  2"  demanded  the  captain  of  the  Speedy.  "It's  a  face  I  know 
— some  old  shipmate  of  mine,  I  fancy." 

"  I  rather  think  not,  my  lord — it's  a  Yankee  we  picked  up  at 
sea  in  a  boat,  a  Captain  Wallingford,  of  the  American  ship 
Dawn.  His  vessel  -foundered  in  a  gale,  and  all  hands  were  lost 
but  this  gentleman,  his  mate,  and  a  negro.  We  have  had  them 
on  board,  now,  more  than  three  months." 

A  long,  low  -whistle  escaped  from  Lord  Harry  Dermond,  who 
immediately  walked  up  to  me,  raised  his  hat,  and  commenced  a 
very  disagreeable  sort  of  a  dialogue,  by  saying — 

"  Your  servant,  Mr.  Wallingford  !  We  meet  under  very  un 
usual  circumstances,  and  somewhat  often.  The  last  time  was  at  a 
rather  interesting  moment  to  me,  and  one  in  which  I  was  so  much 
engaged,  that  I  had  not  leisure  properly  to  pay  my  respects  to 
you.  Mr.  Clements,  I  have  a  little  business  to  transact  with  this 
gentleman,  and  must  ask  the  favor  of  your  company  and  his,  for 
a  few  minutes,  in  your  cabin." 

No  objection  could  be  raised  to  this  request ;  and  I  followed 
the  two  officers  into  the  Briton's  cabin. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  .''00 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

WO  I  hae  scarce  to  lay  me  on, 
If  kingly  fields  were  ance  my  ain  ; 
"WT  the  moor-cock  on  the  mountain-breu, 
But  hardship  na'er  can  dannton  me." 

SCOTTISH  Soya. 

THERE  was  an  air  of  cool  deliberation  about  Lord  Harry  Der- 
niond,  which  satisfied  me  I  should  have  to  pass  through  a  trying 
ordeal ;  and  I  prepared  myself  for  the  occasion.  Nothing  was 
said  until  all  three  of  us  were  in  the  after-cabin,  when  Clements 
and  his  visitor  took  seats  on  the  sofa,  and  a  motion  was  made 
to  me  to  occupy  a  chair.  Then  Lord  Harry  Dermond  com 
menced  the  discourse,  in  a  manner  more  serious  than  I  could 
have  wished. 

"  Mr.  Wallingford,"  he  said,  "  there  is  little  need  of  prelimi 
naries  between  you  and  me.  I  recollected  your  ship,  when  the 
Black  Prince  and  Speedy  were  in  the  act  of  closing  Avith  the 
Frenchmen,  three  months  since  ;  and  I  need  scarcely  say  that 
the  manner  in  which  she  got  back  to  the  place  where  I  then 
saw  her,  requires  an  explanation  at  your  hands." 

"  It  shall  be  given  to  you,  my  lord.  Believing  you  had  no 
right  to  send  in  the  Dawn,  and  knowing  that  a  detention  of  any 
length  would  prove  my  ruin,  I  regained  possession  of  my  own 
by  the  best  means  that  offered." 

"  This  is  at  least  frank,  sir.  You  mean  to  be  understood  that 
you  rose  on  my  people  in  the  night,  murdered  them,  and  that 
you  subsequently  lost  your  vessel  from  a  want  of  force  to  take 
care  of  her." 

"  This  is  partly  true,  and  partly  a  mistake.  I  certainly  should 
not  have  lost  my  ship  had  T  been  as  strong-handed  in  the  gale 


370  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

in  which  she  was  destroyed,  as  she  was  the  day  she  left  home : 
and  she  would  have  been  as  strong  in  that  gale,  had  we  never 
fallen  in  with  the  Speedy." 

"Which  is  an  indirect  manner  of  saying  that  the  wreck  was 
owing  to  us  ?" 

"  I  shall  very  directly  say,  that  I  think  it  was ;  though  by  in 
direct  means." 

"  Well,  sir,  on  that  point  it  is  not  probable  we  shall  ever 
agree,  You  cannot  suppose  that  the  servants  of  the  King  of 
Great  Britain  will  submit  to  your  American  mode  of  construing 
public  law  ;  but  will  easily  understand  that  we  leave  such  mat 
ters  to  our  own  admiralty  judges.  It  is  a  matter  of  more  mo 
ment  to  me,  just  now,  to  ascertain  what  has  become  of  the  offi 
cers  and  men  that  were  put  in  charge  of  your  ship.  I  saw  the 
vessel,  some  time  after  I  put  Mr.  Sennit  and  his  party  on  board 
you,  in  your  possession  ;  that  we  ascertained  by  means  of  our 
glasses  ;  and  you  now  admit  that  you  retook  your  vessel  from 
these  men.  What  has  become  of  the  prize  crew  ?" 

I  briefly  related  the  manner  in  which  we  had  regained  the 
possession  of  the  Dawn.  The  two  English  officers  listened  at 
tentively,  and  I  could  discern  a  smile  of  incredulity  on  the 
countenance  of  Clements ;  while  the  captain  of  the  Speedy 
seemed  far  from  satisfied — though  he  was  not  so  much  disposed 
to  let  his  real  opinion  be  known. 

"This  is  a  very  well-concocted  and  well-told  tale,  my  lord," 
baid  the  first,  with  a  sneer  ;  "  but  I  doubt  whether  it  find  many 
believers  in  the  British  service." 

"  The  British  service,  sir,"  I  coldly  retorted,  "  is,  like  all  oth 
ers,  liable  to  reverses  and  accidents." 

"  Not  exactly  of  this  nature,  Mr.  Wallingford,  you  will  your 
self  admit,  on  reflection.  But  I  beg  pardon,  my  lord :  this  is 
your  affair — not  mine ;  and  I  have  been  indiscreet  in  speak- 
ing." 

Lord  Harry  Dcrmond  looked  as  if  he  concurred  in  this  senti 
ment.  He  had  the  pride  of  official  rank,  and  that  of  private 
rank,  to  the  usual  degree  ;  and  did  not  exactly  like  the  notion 


MILES      W  ALLIN  G  FO  BD.  37l 

that  one  so  much  his  inferior  in  both  should  take  an  affan  so 
peculiarly  his  own  out  of  his  hands.  He  made  a  cold  acknowl 
edging  bow,  therefore,  in  reply,  and  paused  a  moment,  like  a 
man  who  reflected,  ere  he  continued  the  discourse. 

"  You  must  be  aware,  Mr.  Wallingford,  it  is  my  duty  to  in 
quire  closely  into  this  matter,"  he  at  length  resumed.  "  I  am 
just  out  of  port,  where  my  ship  has  been  lying  to  refit,  sev 
eral  weeks,  and  it  is  not  probable  that  either  of  my  officers 
would  be  in  England  without  reporting  himself,  had  he  reached 
home." 

"  It  is  quite  probable,  my  lord,  that  neither  has  reached  home. 
I  saw  them  picked  up,  with  my  own  eyes,  and  by  what  ap 
peared  to  me  to  be  an  outward-bound  West  Indiaman.  In  that 
case,  they  have,  most  probably,  all  been  carried  to  one  of  the 
West  India  islands." 

Here  Clements  handed  Lord  Harry  Dcrmond  a  paper  with 
something  written  on  it,  in  pencil,  which  the  latter  read.  After 
running  his  eyes  over  it,  the  captain  nodded  his  head,  and  the 
lieutenant  quitted  the  cabin.  While  he  was  absent,  my  com 
panion,  in  a  polite  manner,  gave  me  the  particulars  of  the  com 
bat  I  had  witnessed,  going  so  far  as  to  direct  my  attention  to  a 
paper  he  had  brought  on  board,  to  show  to  Captain  Rowley, 
and  which  contained  the  English  official  account  of  the  whole 
affair.  On  glancing  at  it,  I  saw  that  the  presence  of  the  Dawn, 
on  that  occasion,  was  mentioned  in  the  report ;  the  name  of  the 
ship  being  given,  with  an  allusion  that  was  not  very  clear  to  the 
general  reader,  but  which  was  plain  enough  to  me.  It  was  not 
long,  however,  before  Clements  returned,  and,  without  much 
ceremony,  he  informed  me  that  the  gun-room  mess  waited  my 
appearance  to  sit  down  to  dinner.  On  this  hint,  I  rose  and 
took  my  leave,  though  I  had  time  to  sec  Marble  enter  the  cabin, 
and  Neb  standing  by  the  scuttle-butt,  under  the  charge  of  the 
sentinel,  ere  I  dipped  my  head  under  hatches. 

The  dinner  lasted  near  an  hour,  and  Lord  Harry  Dcrmond 
civilly  waited  all  that  time,  before  he  again  summoned  me  to 
the  cabin.  I  was  surprised  to  find  Marble  in  the  outer  cabin, 


372  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

Neb  near  the  door,  in  waiting,  and  the  two  officers  with  pen, 
ink,  and  paper  before  them,  where  they  had  been  left  by  me. 

"  Mr.  Wallingford,"  Lord  Harry  commenced,  "  I  hold  it  to 
be  no  more  than  fair  to  let  you  know  that  your  mate's  account 
of  the  manner  in  which  the  Speedy's  people  got  out  of  the 
Dawn,  and  your  own,  do  not  agree  in  a  single  particular.  Here 
is  his  statement,  taken  down  by  myself  from  his  own  words ; 
if  you  are  disposed  to  hear  it,  I  will  read  you  what  he  says." 

"  I  do  not  well  sec  how  Mr.  Marble  can  contradict  me  and 
tell  the  truth,  my  lord — but  it  were  better  I  should  hear  his 
statement." 

" '  I  was  first  mate  of  the  Dawn,  of  New  York,  Miles  Wal 
lingford  master  and  owner.  Captured  and  ordered  in  by  Speedy, 
as  known.  Three  days  after  parting  company  with  the  frigate, 
Avith  Mr.  Sennit  as  prize  master,  Captain  AVallingford  and  I 
commenced  reasoning  with  that  gentleman  on  the  impropriety 
of  sending  in  a  neutral  and  breaking  up  a  promising  voyage, 
which  so  overcame  the  said  Lieutenant  Sennit,  in  his  mind,  that 
he  consented  to  take  the  ship's  yawl,  with  a  suitable  stock  of 
provisions  and  water,  and  give  us  up  the  ship.  Accordingly, 
the  boat  was  lowered,  properly  stowed,  the  most  tender  anxiety 
manifested  for  the  party  that  was  to  go  in  her,  when  the  Eng 
lish  took  their  leave  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  and  hearty  good 
wishes  for  our  safe  arrival  at  Hamburg.' " 

"  Am  I  to  understand  you  seriously,  Lord  Harry  Dcrmond, 
that  my  mate  has  actually  given  you  this  account  of  the  affair, 
for  fact?" 

"  Most '  seriously,  sir.  I  believe  he  even  offered  to  swear 
to  it,  though  I  dispensed  with  that  ceremony.  Here  is  the 
statement  of  the  black.  Perhaps  you  would  wish  to  hear  that 
also  ?" 

"  Any  thing,  my  lord,  it  is  your  pleasure  to  communicate." 

"  Nebuchadnezzar  Clawbonny  says,  'he  belonged  to  the  Dawn 
— was  left  in  her,  when  captured  by  Speedy,  and  was  in  her 
when  wrecked.  Captain  Wallingford  ordered  Mr.  Sennit  to 
quit  liis  ship,  or  he  would  make  him ;  and  Mr.  Sennit  obeyed 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  3*7  2 

Master  Miles,  of  course.'  But  I  will  road  no  more  of  this,  as  a 
slave's  statement  can  hardly  be  relied  on.  Perhaps  we  ought 
not  to  have  received  it,  Mr.  Clements  ?" 

"  Your  pardon,  my  lord  ;  it  is  our  duty  to  protect  his  Majes 
ty's  subjects,  in  the  best  mode  we  can." 

"  That  may  be  true,  sir ;  but  certain  great  principles  ought 
never  to  be  overlooked,  even  when  doing  our  duty.  You  per 
ceive,  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  your  companions  contradict  your 
own  account  of  this  affair ;  and  the  most  unpleasant  suspicions 
are  awakened.  I  should  never  justify  myself  to  my  superiors, 
were  I  to  neglect  putting  yon  under  arrest,  and  carrying  you  all 
in  for  trial." 

''  If  my  companions  have  been  so  ill-judging  as  to  make  the 
statement  you  say,  I  can  only  regret  it.  I  have  told  you  the 
truth ;  and  I  can  add  no  more.  As  for  the  future,  I  do  not 
suppose  any  representation  of  mine  will  induce  you  to  change 
your  decision." 

"  You  carry  it  off  well,  sir ;  and  I  hope  you  will  maintain 
the  same  appearance  of  innocence  to  the  end.  The  lives  of 
the  king's  subjects  arc  not  to  be  taken  with  impunity,  uever- 
thelcss." 

"  Nor  is  the  property  of  an  American  citizen,  I  trust,  my  lord. 
Had  I  used  force  to  regain  my  ship,  and  had  I  thrown  the  prize 
crew  into  the  sea,  I  conceive  I  would  have  been  doing  no  more 
than  was  my  duty." 

"  This  is  well,  sir ;  and  I  hope,  for  your  sake,  that  an  Eng 
lish  jury  will  view  the  affair  in  the  same  light.  At  present, 
prepare  to  go  on  board  the  Speedy — for  you  must  not  be  sepa 
rated  from  the  important  testimony  we  can  find  in  that  ship. 
As  for  the  citizens  you  mention,  they  are  bound  to  submit  to 
the  decision  of  the  admiralty  courts,  and  not  to  take  the  law 
into  their  own  hands. ' 

"  We  shall  see,  my  lord.  When  this  case  reache-i  my  own 
country,  AVC  shall  probably  hear  more  of  it." 

I  uttered  this  in  a  sufficiently  magnificent  manner  ;  and,  to  own 
the  truth,  I  felt  a  little  magnificently  at  the  time.  I  was  then 


374  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

young,  not  thrce-and-twcnty ;  and  I  thought  of  my  country, 
her  independence,  her  justice,  her  disposition  to  do  right,  her 
determination  to  submit  to  no  wrongs,  and  her  disregard  of  the 
expedient  when  principles  were  concerned  —  mucli  as  young 
people  think  of  the  immaculate  qualities  of  their  own  parents. 
According  to  the  decisions  of  judges  of  this  latter  class,  there 
would  not  be  a  liar,  a  swindler,  a  cheat,  or  a  mercenary  scoun 
drel  living ;  but  the  earth  would  be  filled  with  so  many  suffer 
ing  saints  that  arc  persecuted  for  their  virtues.  According  to 
the  notions  of  most  American  citizens  of  my  age,  the  very 
name  they  bore  ought  to  be  a  protection  to  them  in  any  part  of 
the  world,  under  the  penalty  of  incurring  the  republic's  just  in 
dignation.  How  far  my  anticipations  were  realized,  will  be  seen 
in  the  sequel ;  and  I  beg  the  American  reader,  in  particular,  to 
restrain  his  natural  impatience,  until  he  can  learn  the  facts  in 
the  regmar  order  of  the  narrative.  I  can  safely  promise  him, 
that  should  he  receive  them  in  the  proper  spirit,  with  a  desire 
to  ascertain  the  truth  only,  and  not  to  uphold  bloated  and  un 
tenable  theories,  he  will  be  a  wiser,  and  probably  a  more  modest 
man,  for  the  instruction  that  is  to  be  thus  gleaned  from  the  in 
cidents  it  will  be  my  painful  office  to  record.  As  for  Lord  Har 
ry  Dermond,  the  threatened  indignation  of  the  great  American 
nation  gave  him  very  little  concern.  He  probably  cared  a  vast 
deal  more  for  one  frown  from  the  admiral  who  commanded  at 
Plymouth,  than  for  the  virtuous  resentment  of  the  President 
and  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  America.  I  am  writing 
of  the  close  of  the  year  1803,  it  will  be  remembered  ;  a  remote 
period  in  the  history  of  the  great  republic ;  though  I  will  not 
take  it  on  myself  to  say  things  have  materially  altered,  except 
,it  be  in  the  newspapers,  in  this  particular  interest.  The  order 
to  prepare  to  quit  the  Briton  was  repeated,  and  I  was  dismissed 
to  the  outer  cabin,  where  was  Marble,  while  Mr.  Clements  at 
tempted  to  shut  the  door  that  separated  us,  though  from  som« 
cause  or  other,  he  did  not  exactly  effect  his  object.  In  conse 
quence  of  this  neglect,  I  overheard  the  following  dialogue  : 
"I  hope,  my  lord,'1  said  Clements,  "you  will  not  think  ot 


MILES      WALLINGFOED.  .375 

taking  away  the  mate  and  the  black.  They  are  both  first-rate 
men,  and  both  well  affected  to  his  Majesty's  service.  The  negro 
was  of  great  use  aloft  during  the  late  action,  while  the  mate 
fought  at  a  gun,  like  a  tiger,  for  the  better  part  of  an  hour.  We 
are  somewhat  short  of  hands,  and  I  have  counted  on  inducing 
both  of  these  men  to  enter.  There  is  the  prize  money  for  the 
Frenchman  under  our  lee,  you  know,  my  lord,  and  I  have  little 
doubt  of  succeeding." 

"  I'm  sorry  duty  compels  me  to  take  all  three,  Clements,  but 
I'll  bear  what  you  say  in  mind ;  perhaps  we  can  get  them  to 
enter  on  board  the  Speedy.  You  know  it" — 

Here  Mr.  Clements  discovered  that  the  door  was  not  shut,  and 
he  closed  it  tight,  preventing  my  hearing  any  more.  I  now 
turned  to  Marble,  Avhose  countenance  betrayed  the  self-reproach 
he  endured,  at  ascertaining  the  injury  he  had  done  by  his  ill- 
judged  artifice.  I  made  no  reproaches,  however,  but  squeezed 
his  hand  in  token  of  my  forgiveness.  The  poor  fellow,  I  plain 
ly  saw,  had  great  difficulty  in  forgiving  himself,  though  he  said 
nothing  at  the  moment. 

The  conference  between  Lord  Harry  Dermond  and  Mr.  Clem 
ents  lasted  half  an  hour.  At  the  end  of  that  time  both  appear 
ed  in  the  forward  cabin,  and  I  saw  by  the  countenance  of  the 
last  that  he  had  failed  in  his  object.  As  for  us,  we  were  trans 
ferred,  with  the  few  articles  we  possessed,  to  the  Speedy,  on 
board  which  ship  our  arrival  made  as  much  of  a  sensation  as 
the  discipline  of  a  man-of-war  would  permit.  I  was  put  in  irons, 
the  moment  we  reached  the  quarter-deck,  and  placed  under  the 
charge  of  a  sentinel  near  the  cabin  door.  Some  little  attention 
was  paid  to  my  comfort,  it  is  true,  and  a  canvas  screen  was  fit 
ted  for  me,  behind  which  I  ate  and  slept,  with  some  sort  of  re 
tirement.  My  irons  were  of  so  large  a  sort,  that  I  found  means 
to  take  them  off  and  put  them  on  at  pleasure.  I  was  disposed 
to  think  that  the  officers  were  aware  of  the  fact,  and  that  the 
things  were  used  as  much  for  the  sake  of  appearance  as  for  any 
thing  else.  Apart  from  the  confinement  and  the  injury  done 
mv  affairs,  I  had  no  especial  cause  of  complaint,  though  this  im- 


376  MILES     WALLINOFOHD. 

prisonmeut  lasted  until  the  month  of  April,  1804,  or  quite  five 
months.  During  this  time  the  Speedy  arrived  as  far  south  as 
the  line,  then  she  hovered  about  the  Canaries  and  the  Azores 
on  her  way  homeward,  looking  in  vain  for  another  Frenchman. 
I  was  permitted  to  take  exercise  twice  a  day,  once  in  the  gang 
way,  and  once  on  the  gun-deck,  and  my  table  was  actually  sup 
plied  from  the  cabin.  On  no  head  had  I  any  other  cause  to 
complain  than  the  fact  that  my  ship  had  been  wrongfully  seized 
in  the  first  place,  and  that  I  was  now  suffering  imprisonment  for 
a  crime — if  crime  indeed  it  would  have  been — that  I  certainly 
had  not  been  obliged  to  commit. 

During  the  five  months  I  thus  remained  a  prisoner  on  the 
gun-deck  of  the  Speedy,  I  never  exchanged  a  syllable  with  ci 
ther  Marble  or  Neb.  I  saw  them  both  occasionally,  employed 
on  duty,  like  the  crew,  and  we  often  exchanged  significant  looks, 
but  never  any  words.  Occasionally  I  had  a  visit  from  an  offi 
cer — these  gentlemen  sitting  down  and  conversing  with  me  on 
general  topics,  evidently  to  relieve  the  tedium  of  my  confine 
ment,  Avithout  making  any  allusion  to  its  cause.  I  cannot  say 
that  my  health  suffered,  a  circumstance  that  was  probably  ow 
ing  to  the  cleanliness  of  the  ship,  and  the  admirable  manner  in 
which  she  was  ventilated. 

At  length  we  went  into  port,  carrying  with  us  a  French  ship 
from  one  of  the  islands  to  the  eastward  of  the  Cape,  as  a  prize. 
The  Speedy  captured  this  vessel  after  a  smart  chase  to  the  north 
ward  of  the  Azores,  and  Marble  and  Neb  having  volunteered  to 
do  so,  were  sent  on  board  her,  as  two  of  the  prize  crew.  That 
day  I  got  a  visit  from  the  purser,  Avho  was  the  most  attentive 
of  all  my  acquaintances,  and  I  took  the  liberty  of  asking  him  if 
it  were  possible  my  two  shipmates  had  entered  into  the  British 
service. 

"  Why  not  exactly  that,"  he  said,  "  though  they  seem  to  like 
us,  and  we  think  both  will  ship  rather  than  lose  the  prize  money 
they  might  get  for  their  services  in  the  Briton.  Your  old  mate 
is  a  prime  fellow,  the  master  tells  me ;  but  my  lord  fancying  we 
might  meet  some  French  cruiser  in  the  chops  of  the  Channel, 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  377 

thought  it  better  to  send  these  two  chaps  in  the  prize,  lest  they 
should  take  the  studs  and  refuse  to  fight  at  the  pinch.  They 
have  done  duty,  they  say,  to  keep  themselves  in  good  health ; 
and  we  humor  them,  to  be  frank  with  you,  under  the  notion 
they  may  get  to  like  us  so  well  as  not  to  wish  to  quit  us." 

This  gave  me  an  insight  into  the  true  state  of  the  case,  and  I 
felt  much  easier  on  the  subject.  That  Marble  ever  intended  to 
serve  under  the  British  flag,  I  had  not  supposed  for  a  moment ; 
but  1  wras  not  sure  that  regret  for  the  blunder  he  had  already 
made;  might  not  lead  him  into  some  new  mistake  of  equally  se 
rious  import,  under  the  impression  that  he  was  correcting  the 
evil.  As  for  Neb,  I  knew  he  would  never  desert  me ;  and  I 
had  not,  from  the  first,  felt  any  other  concern  on  his  account, 
than  an  apprehension  his  ignorance  might  be  imposed  on. 

The  day  we  anchored  in  Plymouth  Sound,  Avas  thick  and 
drizzling,  with  a  fresh  breeze  at  south-west.  The  ship  camc-to 
just  at  sunset,  her  prize  bringing  up  a  short  distance  in-shoro 
of  her,  as  I  could  see  from  the  port,  that  formed  a  sort  of  win 
dow  to  my  little  canvas  state-room.  Just  as  the  ship  was  se 
cured,  Lord  Harry  Dermond  passed  into  his  cabin,  accompanied 
by  his  first  lieutenant,  and  I  overheard  him  say  to  the  latter — 

"  B}r  the  way,  Mr.  Powlett,  this  prisoner  must  be  removed  to 
some  other  place  in  the  morning.  Now  we  are  so  near  the  land, 
it  is  not  quite  safe  to  trust  him  at  a  port." 

I  was  still  musing  on  the  purport  of  this  remark,  when  I  heard 
the  noise  of  a  boat  coming  alongside.  Putting  my  head  out 
of  the  port,  I  could  just  see  that  the  prize  master  of  the  French 
ship  had  come  on  board,  and  that  Marble  and  Neb  were  two  of 
the  four  men  who  pulled  the  oars.  Marble  saw  me,  and  gave 
a  sign  of  recognition,  though  it  was  so  dark  as  to  render  it  diffi 
cult  to  distinguish  objects  at  a  trifling  distance.  This  sign  I 
returned  in  a  significant  manner.  It  was  this  answering  signal 
from  me  that  induced  my  mate  not  to  quit  the  boat,  and  to 
keep  Neb  with  him.  The  other  two  men  were  so  accustomed 
to  do  duty  with  the  Americans,  that  they  did  not  scruple  to  run 
up  the  frigate's  side,  after  their  officer,  eager  to  get  a  gossip 


373  MILES      W  ALLINGFO  KL>. 

with  their  old  messmates  on  the  berth- deck.  Almost  at  the 
same  instant  the  officer  of  the  deck  called  out — 

"  Drop  la  Manervds  boat  astern,  out  of  the  way  of  the  cap 
tain's  gig,  which  will  be  hauling  up  in  a  minute." 

This  'was  on  the  larboard  side,  it  is  true ;  but  a  smart  sea 
slapping  against  the  starboard,  Lord  Harry  was  willing  to  dis 
pense  with  ceremony,  in  order  to  escape  a  wet  jacket.  I  cannot 
tell  the  process  of  reasoning  that  induced  me  to  take  the  step  I 
did ;  it  was,  however,  principally  owing  to  the  remark  I  had  so 
lately  heard,  and  which  brought  all  the  danger  of  my  position 
vividly  to  my  mind.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  moving 
cause,  I  acted  as  follows : 

My  irons  were  slipped,  and  I  squeezed  myself  between  the 
gun  and  the  side  of  the  port,  where  I  hung  by  my  hands  .against 
the  ship's  side.  I  might  be  seen,  or  I  might  not,  caring  lit 
tle  for  the  result.  I  was  not  seen  by  any  but  Marble  and 
Neb,  the  former  of  whom  caught  me  by  the  legs,  as  he  passed 
beneath,  and,  whispering  to  me  to  lie  down  in  the  bottom  of 
the  boat,  he  assisted  me  into  the  cutter.  We  actually  rubbed 
against  the  captain's  gig,  as  it  was  hauling  up  to  the  gang 
way  ;  but  no  one  suspected  what  had  just  taken  place.  Thin 
gig  was  the  only  one  of  the  Speedy's  boats  that  was  in  the 
water  at  that  hoar,  it  having  just  been  lowered  to  carry  the  cap 
tain  ashore.  In  another  minute  we  had  dropped  astern,  Neb 
holding  on  by  a  boat-hook  to  one  of  the  rudder-chains.  Here 
we  lay,  until  the  gig  pulled  round,  close  to  us,  taking  the  direc 
tion  toward  the  usual  landing,  with  the  captain  of  the  Speedy 
in  her. 

In  two  minutes  the  gig  was  out  of  sight,  and  Marble  whisper 
ed  to  Neb  to  let  go  his  hold.  This  was  promptly  done,  when 
the  boat  of  the  prize  began  to  drift  from  the  ship,  swept  by  a 
powerful  tide,  and  impelled  by  a  stiff  breeze.  No  one  paid  any 
heed  to  us,  everybody's  thoughts  being  occupied  with  the  shore 
and  the  arrival  at  such  a  moment.  The  time  was  fortunate  in 
another  particular:  Lord  Harry  Dcrmond  was  a  vigilant  and 
good  officer;  but  his  first  lieutenant  was  what  is  called  on  board 


MILKS      WALLINGFORD.  SO 

ship  "a  poor  devil;"  a  phrase  that  is  sufficiently  significant; 
and  the  moment  a  vigilant  captain's  back  is  turned,  there  is 
a  certain  ease  and  neglect  in  a  vessel  that  has  an  indifferent  first 
lieutenant.     Every  one  feels  at  liberty  to  do  more  as  he  pleases, 
than  has  been  his  wont ;  and  Avhere  there  is  a  divided  respond 
bility  of  this  nature,  few  perform  more  duty  than  they  can  helj. 
When  "  the  cat  is  away,  the  mice  come  out  to  play." 

At  all  events,  our  boat  continued  to  drop  astern  unobserved, 
until  the  ship  itself  became  very  faintly  visible  to  us.  I  arose 
as  soon  as  we  were  fifty  feet  from  the  rudder,  and  I  assumed 
the  direction  of  affairs  as  soon  as  on  my  feet.  There  were  a 
mast  and  a  lugg-sail  in  the  boat,  and  we  stepped  the  former  and 
set  the  last  as  soon  as  far  enough  from  the  Speedy  to  be  certain 
we  could  not  be  seen.  Putting  the  helm  up  sufficiently  to  bring 
the  wind  on  the  quarter,  I  then  stood  directly  out  to  sea.  All 
this  was  accomplished  in  less  than  five  minutes,  by  means  of 
what  the  French  call  a  sudden  inspiration ! 

To  be  sure,  our  situation  was  sufficiently  awkward,  now  we 
had  obtained  something  that  had  the  semblance  of  freedom.  Nei 
ther  of  us  had  a  single  shilling  of  money,  or  an  article  of  clothing 
but  those  Ave  wore.  There  was  not  a  mouthful  of  food  of  any 
sort  in  the  boat,  nor  a  drop  of  water.  The  night  was  lowering 
and  intensely  dark,  and  the  wind  was  blowing  fresher  than  was 
at  all  desirable  for  a  boat.  Still  we  determined  to  persevere,  antl 
we  ran  boldly  off  the  land,  trusting  our  common  fate  to  Provi 
dence.  I  hoped  we  might  fall  in  with  some  American,  bound 
in  or  out;  should  that  fail  us,  France  might  be  reached,  if  we 
had  good  luck,  in  the  course  of  less  than  eight-and-forty  hours. 

Our  situation  afforded  nothing  to  occupy  the  mind  but  anx 
iety.  We  could  not  see  a  hundred  yards,  possessed  no  compass, 
or  any  other  guide  on  our  way  than  the  direction  of  the  wind, 
and  were  totally  without  the  means  of  refreshment  or  shelter. 
Still,  we  managed  to  sleep  by  turns,  each  having  entire  confi 
dence  in  the  skill  of  both  the  others.  In  this  manner  we  got 
through  the  night,  feeling  no  apprehensions  of  being  pursued, 
the  darkness  affording  an  effectual  cover. 


380  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

When  the  light  returned,  we  discovered  nothing  in  pursuit, 
though  the  weather  was  too  thick  to  admit  of  our  seeing  any 
great  distance  around  the  boat.  All  the  morning  vre  continued 
running  to  the  northward  and  eastward,  under  our  single  lugg 
reefed,  only  keeping  clear  of  the  seas  that  chased  us  by  dint  of 
good  management.  As  for  eating  or  drinking,  the  first  was  out 
of  the  question ;  though  we  began  to  make  some  little  provisic/n 
to  slake  our  thirst  by  exposing  our  handkerchiefs  to  the  drizzle, 
in  order  to  wring  them  when  they  should  become  saturated  with 
water.  The  coolness  of  the  weather,  however,  and  the  mist, 
contributed  to  prevent  our  suffering  much,  and  I  do  not  know 
that  I  felt  any  great  desire  for  cither  food  or  water,  until  to 
ward  the  middle  of  the  day.  Then  we  began  to  converse  to 
gether  on  the  subject  of  dinner,  in  a  jocular  way,  however,  rather 
than  with  any  very  great  longings  on  the  subject.  While  thus 
employed,  Neb  suddenly  exclaimed,  "  Dere  a"  sail !" 

Sure  enough,  a  ship  was  meeting  us,  heading  up  on  the  lar 
board  tack  about  west-north-west,  as  she  stretched  in  toward 
the  English  coast.  I  can  see  that  vessel  in  my  mind's  eye  even 
at  this  distant  day.  She  had  two  reefs  in  her  topsails,  with 
spanker,  jib,  and  both  courses  set,  like  a  craft  that  carried  con 
venient,  rather  than  urgent  canvas.  Her  line  of  sailing  would 
take  her  about  two  hundred  yards  to  leeward  of  us,  and  my  first 
impulse  was  to  luff.  A  second  glance  showed  us  that  she  was 
an  English  frigate,  and  we  doused  our  lugg  as  soon  as  possible. 
Our  hearts  were  in  our  mouths  for  the  next  five  minutes.  My 
eye  never  turned  from  that  frigate  as  she  hove  by  us,  now  rising 
on  the  summit  of  a  sea,  now  falling  gracefully  into  the  trough, 
concealing  every  thing  but  her  spars  from  sight.  Glad  enough 
were  we  when  she  had  got  so  far  ahead  as  to  bring  us  well  on 
her  weather-quarter,  though  we  did  not  dare  set  our  sail  again, 
until  her  dark,  glistening  hull,  Avith  its  line  of  frowning  ports, 
was  shut  up  in  the  cloud  of  mist,  leaving  the  spot  on  the  ocean 
where  she  had  last  been  seen  as  if  she  were  not.  That  was  one  of 
those  hair-breadth  escapes  that  often  occur  to  men  engaged  in 
hazardous  undertakings,  without  any  direct  agency  of  their  own. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  381 

Our  next  adventure  was  of  a  more  pleasing  character.  A 
good-sized  ship  was  made  astern,  coming  up  Channel  before  the 
Avind,  and  carrying  topmast  studding-sails.  She  was  an  Ameri 
can  !  On  this  point  we  were  all  agreed,  and  placing  ourselves 
in  her  track,  we  ran  off,  on  her  course,  knowing  that  she  must 
be  going  quite  two  feet  to  our  one.  In  twenty  minutes  she 
passed  close  to  us,  her  officers  and  crew  manifesting  the  greatest 
curiosity  to  learn  who  and  what  we  were.  So  dexterously  did 
Marble  manage  the  boat,  that  we  got  a  rope,  and  hauled  along 
side  without  lessening  the  ship's  way,  though  she  nearly  towed 
us  under  water  in  the  attempt.  The  moment  we  could,  we 
leaped  on  deck,  abandoning  the  boat  to  its  fate. 

We  had  not  mistaken  the  character  of  the  vessel.  It  was  a 
ship  from  James  River,  loaded  with  tobacco,  and  bound  to  Am 
sterdam.  Her  master  heard  our  story,  believed  it,  and  felt  for 
us.  We  only  remained  with  him  a  week,  however,  quitting  his 
vessel  off  the  coast  of  Holland,  to  go  to  Hamburg,  where  I 
fancied  my  letters  would  have  been  sent,  and  whence  I  knew  it 
would  be  equally  in  our  power  to  reach  home.  At  Hamburg,  I 
was  fated  to  meet  with  disappointment.  There  was  not  a  line 
for  me,  and  we  found  ourselves  without  money  in  a  strange 
place.  I  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  tell  our  story,  but  we 
agreed  to  ship  together  in  some  American,  and  work  our  way 
home  in  the  best  manner  we  could.  After  looking  about  us  a 
little,  necessity  compelled  us  to  enter  in  the  first  vessel  that 
offered.  This  was  a  Philadelphia  ship,  called  the  Schuylkill,  on 
board  which  I  shipped  as  second  mate,  while  Marble  and  Neb 
took  the  berths  of  foremast  Jacks.  No  one  questioned  us  as  to 
the  past,  and  we  had  decided  among  ourselves,  to  do  our  duty 
and  keep  mum.  We  used  our  own  names,  and  that  was  the 
extent  of  our  communication  on  the  subject  of  our  true  char 
acters. 

I  found  it  a  little  hard  to  descend  so  much  on  the  ladder  of 
life,  but  an  early  and  capital  training  enabled  me  to  act  Dicky 
over  again,  with  some  credit ;  and  before  the  ship  went  to  sea, 
our  chief  mate  was  discharged  for  drunkenness,  and  I  got  a  lift. 


382  MILES      \VALLINGFOHn. 

Marble  was  put  in  my  place,  and  from  that  time,  for  the  next 
five  months,  things  went  on  smoothly  enough ;  I  say  five  months, 
for,  instead  of  sailing  for  home  direct,  the  ship  went  to  Spain, 
within  the  Straits,  for  a  cargo  of  barilla,  which  she  took  up  to 
London,  where  she  got  a  freight  for  Philadelphia.  We  were  all 
a  little  uneasy  at  finding  that  our  story,  with  sundry  perversions 
and  exaggerations,  was  in  the  English  papers ;  but,  by  the  time 
we  reached  England,  it  was  forgotten;  having  been  crowded 
out  by  the  occurrence  of  new  events  of  interest,  at  a  moment 
when  every  week  was  teeming  with  incidents  that  passed  into 
history. 

Nevertheless,  I  was  glad  when  we  left  England,  and  I  once 
more  found  myself  on  the  high  seas,  homeward  bound.  My 
wages  had  enabled  me,  as  well  as  Marble  and  Neb,  to  get  new- 
outfits,  suited  to  our  present  stations,  and  we  sailed  for  Phila 
delphia  with  as  good  a  stock  of  necessaries  as  usually  falls  to 
the  lot  of  men  in  our  respective  positions.  These  were  all  that 
remained  to  me  of  a  ship  and  cargo  that  Avere  worth  between 
eighty  and  ninety  thousand  dollars! 

The  passage  proved  to  be  very  long,  but  we  reached  the 
capes  of  the  Delaware  at  last.  On  the  7th  September,  1804,  or 
when  I  wanted  a  few  weeks  of  being  three-and-twenty,  I  landed 
on  the  wharves  of  "what  was  then  the  largest  town  in  America, 
a  ruined  and  disappointed  man.  Still  I  kept  up  my  spirits, 
leaving  my  companions  in  ignorance  of  the  extent  of  my  mis 
fortunes.  We  remained  a  few  days  to  discharge  the  cargo,  when 
we  were  all  three  paid  off.  Neb,  who  had  passed  on  board  the 
Schuylkill  for  a  free  black,  brought  me  his  wages,  and  when  we 
had  thrown  our  joint  stock  into  a  common  bag,  it  was  found 
to  amount  to  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  dollars. 
With  this  money,  then,  we  prepared  to  turn  our  faces  north, 
Marble  anxious  to  meet  his  mother  and  little  Kitty,  Neb  desirous 
of  again  seeing  Chloe,  and  I  to  meet  my  principal  creditor,  John 
Wallingford,  and  to  gain  some  tidings  of  Mr.  llardinge  and 
Lucy. 


MILES      WALLINCffO.RD.  383 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

"  Tou  think  I'll  weep. 

No,  I'll  not  weep : 

I  have  full  cause  of  weeping ;  but  this  heart 
Shall  break  into  a  hundred  thousand  flaws, 

Or  ere  I'll  weep." 

LEAK. 

I  PASS  over  the  manner  and  time  of  our  being  on  the  road 
between  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  as  things  belonging  to  a 
former  age,  and  to  be  forgotten.  I  will  merely  say  that  we  trav 
elled  the  South  Amboy  road,  and  Avent  through  a  part  of  the 
world  called  Feather-bed  Lane,  that  causes  my  bones  to  ache, 
even  now,  in  recollection.  At  Soxith  Amboy,  we  got  on  board 
a  sloop,  or  packet,  and  entered  the  bay  of  New  York  by  the 
passage  of  the  Kills,  landing  near  Whitehall.  We  were  super 
intending  the  placing  of  our  chests  on  a  cart,  when  some  one 
caught  my  hand,  and  exclaimed — 

"  God  bless  me  ! — Captain  Wallingford  come  to  life,  as  I 
live !" 

It  was  old  Jared  Jones,  the  man  who  had  been  miller  at 
Clawbonny  from  my  infancy  to  the  day  I  left  home.  I  had 
supposed  him  to  be  at  work  there  still ;  but  the  look  he  gave 
me — the  tears  that  I  could  see  were  forcing  themselves  from  his 
eyes — his  whole  manner,  indeed — gave  me  at  once  to  under 
stand  that  all  was  not  right.  My  countenance,  rather  than  my 
tongue,  demanded  an  explanation.  Jarcd  understood  me,  and 
\ve  walked  together  toward  the  Battery ;  leaving  Marble  and 
Xeb  to  proceed  with  the  luggage  to  the  modest  lodgings  in 
which  we  had  proposed  to  hide  ourselves  until  I  had  time  to 
look  about  me — a  house  frequented  by  Moses  for  many  years. 

"  You  perceive  I  do  not  return  home,  Jared,  in  precisely  tho 


^84  MILES      WALLINGFOKP. 

condition  in  which  I  went  abroad.  My  ship  and  cargo  are  both 
lost,  and  I  come  among  you,  now,  a  poor  man,  I  fear." 

"  We  were  afraid  that  something  of  the  sort  must  have  hap 
pened,  or  such  bad  news  would  never  have  reached  Clawbonny, 
sir.  Some  of  your  men  got  back  months  ago,  and  they  brought 
the  tidings  that  the  Dawn  was  captivated  by  the  English.  From 
that  hour,  I  think,  Mr.  Hardinge  gave  the  matter  up.  The  worst 
news,  however,  for  us — that  of  your  death  cxcepted — was  that 
of  the  mortgage  on  Clawbonny." 

"  The  mortgage  on  Clawbonny !  Has  any  thing  been  done  in 
connection  with  that  ?" 

"  Lord  bless  you,  my  dear  Mr.  Miles,  it  has  been  foreclosed, 
under  the  statue  I  believe  they  call  it ;  and  it  was  advertised  to 
be  sold  three  months.  Then,  when  it  was  sold,  how  much  do 
you  think  the  place,  mill  and  all,  actually  brought  ?  Just  give 
a  guess,  sir." 

"  Brought !  Clawbonny  is  then  sold,  and  I  am  no  longer  the 
owner  of  my  father's  house !" 

"  Sold,  sir ;  and  we  have  been  sent  adrift — niggers  and  all. 
They  said  the  freedom-laws  would  soon  let  all  the  older  blacks 
be  their  own  masters ;  and,  as  to  the  young  'uns,  why,  your 
creditors  might  sell  their  times.  But  Mr.  Hardinge  put  tiie 
poor  critturs  into  houses,  near  the  rectory,  and  they  work  about 
among  the  neighbors,  until  things  are  settled.  It's  to  their 
credit,  Mr.  Miles,  that  not  one  of  'em  all  thinks  of  runnin'  away. 
With  the  feelin'  that's  up  in  the  country  consarnin'  blacks,  and 
no  master  to  look  arter  them,  every  one  of  'em  might  be  off, 
without  risk." 

"  And  Chloc,  my  sister's  own  girl,  what  has  become  of  Chloe, 
Jared  ?" 

"  Why,  I  believe  Miss  Lucy  has  tuck  her.  Miss  Lucy  is 
dreadful  rich,  as  all  allow;  and  she  has  put  it  in  her  father's 
power  to  take  care  of  all  the  movables.  Every  huff  [hoof]  of 
living  thing  that  was  on  the  place  has  been  put  on  the  Wright 
farm,  in  readiness  for  their  owner,  should  he  ever  come  to  claim 
them.' 


MILES      WALLINGFOKD.  385 

"  Has  Miss  Hardingc  had  the  consideration  to  hire  that  farm, 
with  such  an  object?" 

"  They  say  she  has  bought  it,  out  of  the  savings  of  her  in 
come.  It  seems  she  is  mistress  of  her  income,  though  under 
age.  And  this  is  the  use  she  has  made  of  some  of  her  money." 

"  I  had  supposed  she  would  have  been  married  by  this  time. 
Mr.  Drcwett  was  thought  to  be  engaged  to  her  when  I  sailed." 

"  Yes  ;  there  is  much  talk  about  that,  through  the  country ; 
but  they  say  Miss  Lucy  will  never  marry,  until  she  has  been  of 
age  a  few  weeks,  in  order  that  she  may  do  what  she  pleases 
with  her  money,  afore  a  husband  can  lay  his  hand  on  it.  Mr. 
Rupert  is  married,  I  s'pose  you  heard,  sir — and  living  away 
like  a  nabob  with  his  bride,  in  one  of  the  best  houses  in  town. 
Some  people  say  that  he  has  a  right  in  a  part  of  old  Mrs.  Brad- 
fort's  estate,  which  he  will  get  as  soon  as  Miss  Lucv  comes  of 
age."  _ 

I  did  not  like  to  pursue  this  part  of  the  discourse  any  fur 
ther,  though  it  was  balm  to  my  wounds  to  hear  these  tidings  of 
Lucy.  The  subject  was  too  sacred,  however,  to  be  discussed 
with  such  a  commentator,  and  I  turned  the  discourse  to  Claw- 
bonny,  and  the  reports  that  might  have  circulated  there  con 
cerning  myself.  Jones  told  me  all  he  knew,  which  was  briefly 
as  follows : 

It  seems  that  the  second  mate  of  the  Dawn,  and  such  of  her 
crew  as  had  been  put  in  the  Speedy,  and  who  had  not  been  im 
pressed  either  in  the  frigate  itself,  or  in  England  after  they  were 
turned  ashore,  had  found  their  way  home,  bringing  with  them 
an  account  of  the  capture  of  the  ship,  her  extraordinary  ap> 
pearance  near  the  four  combatants,  and  their  own  attempt  to 
escape.  This  last  affair,  in  particular,  had  made  some  noise  in 
the  journals — a  warm  discussion  having  taken  place  on  the  sub 
ject  of  the  right  of  Americans  to  run  away  with  an  English 
man-of-war's  boat,  under  the  circumstances  in  which  these  poor 
fellows  had  found  themselves  placed.  In  that  day,  parties  in 
America  took  as  lively  an  interest  in  the  wars  of  Europe,  as  if 
the  country  were  a  belligerent;  and  politicians,  ov  quasi  states- 
17 


3SG  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

men,  were  little  rnorc  than  retailers  of  the  most  ultra  English 
and  ultra  French,  opinions.  It  was  sufficient  for  the  federalists 
to  justify  any  act,  if  England  did  it ;  while  the  democrats  had 
almost  as  strong  a  disposition  to  defend  all  the  enormities  which 
the  policy  of  Napoleon  led  him  to  commit.  I  say  almost — for, 
to  deal  honestly  with  posterity,  I  do  not  think  the  French- 
American  party  was  quite  as  French  as  the  English-American 
party  was  English.  These  last  had  returned  to  their  provincial 
dependence  of  thought ;  and,  well  read  in  the  English  version 
of  all  political  and  moral  truths,  and  little  read  in  those  of  any 
other  state  of  society,  they  believed,  as  he  wlio  worships  at  a 
distance  from  the  shrine,  is  known  implicitly  to  yield  his  faith. 
The  English  party  had  actually  a  foundation  in  deeply-rooted 
opinion,  and  colonial  admiration  for  the  ancient  seat  of  power, 
whereas  the  French  owed  its  existence  principally  to  opposi 
tion.  The  alliance  of  1778  had  some  little  influence  among 
men  old  enough  to  have  been  active  in  the  events  of  the  Revo- 

O 

lution,  it  is  true,  but  they  existed  as  exceptions  even  in  their 
own  party.  It  was  the  English  feeling  that  Avas  natural,  hearty, 
dependent,  and  deep  ;  the  other  having  been,  as  has  just  been 
stated,  rooted  as  much  in  opposition,  as  in  any  other  soil. 

The  public  discussions  of  the  fate  of  the  Dawn,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  had  drawn  much  speculation,  among  my  acquaint 
ances,  to  my  own.  As  month  passed  after  month,  and  no  let 
ters  reached  America,  the  opinion  became  very  general  that  the 
vessel  was  lost.  At  length,  a  ship  from  Jamaica  brought  in  a 
blind  story  of  the  manner  in  which  I  had  retaken  my  vessel 
•from  Sennit ;  and,  it  now  being  known  that  we  were  only  four 
left  in  the  vessel,  the  conjecture  was  hazarded  that  we  had  been 
wrecked  for  want  of  force  to  take  care  of  the  ship ;  and  I  waa 
set  down  as  a  drowned  man. 

Shortly  after  this  opinion  of  my  fate  became  general  among 
my  acquaintances,  John  Wallingford  had  appeared  at  Claw- 
bonny.  He  made  no  change,  however,  spoke  kindly  to  every 
one,  told  the  slaves  nothing  should  be  altered,  and  gave  them 
every  reason  to  suppose  that  they  would  continue  under  a  true 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  38? 

Wallingford  regime.  It  was  generally  understood  he  was  to  DC 
my  lieir,  and  no  one  saw  any  occasion  for  tlie  acts  of  violence 
that  succeeded. 

But,  two  months  after  John  Wallingford's  visit,  Mr.  Har- 
dinge,  and  all  connected  with  Clawbonny,  had  been  astounded 
by  the  intelligence  of  the  existence  of  the  mortgage.  A  fore 
closure  under  the  statute,  or  "  statue,"  as  Jared  had  called  it, 
was  commenced,  and  a  few  months  later  the  place  was  publicly 
sold  at  Kingston,  none  bidding  more  than  five  thousand  dollars 
for  it,  less  than  a  sixth  of  its  worth.  This  sacrifice  of  real  es 
tate,  however,  under  forced  sales,  was,  and  is,  common  enough 
in  America,  especially  ;  it  being  generally  understood  that  the 
creditor  is  prepared  to  rise  in  his  bids,  as  necessity  presents.  In 
my  case  there  was  no  one  to  protect  my  rights,  Mr.  Hardinge 
having  attended  the  sale  prepared  to  reason  with  my  cousin  on 
the  propriety  and  generosity  of  his  course,  rather  than  prepared 
with  good  current  coin  to  extinguish  the  claim.  John  Walling 
ford  did  not  appear,  however,  and  the  sale  took  place  without 
further  competition,  than  one  bid  of  Mr.  Hardinge's ;  a  bid 
that  he  was  not  properly  prepared  to  make,  but  which  he  haz 
arded  on  his  knowledge  of  Lucy's  means  and  disposition.  A 
man  of  the  name  of  Daggett,  a  relative  of  John  Wallingford's, 
by  his  mother's  side,  was  the  ostensible  purchaser,  and  now 
professed  to  be  the  owner  of  my  paternal  acres.  It  was  he  who 
had  taken  possession  under  the  purchase,  had  dismissed  the 
negroes,  and  sent  off  the  personal  property  ;  and  he  it  was  who 
had  placed  new  servants  on  the  farm  and  in  the  mill.  To  the 
surprise  of  everybody,  John  Wallingford  had  not  appeared  in 
the  transaction,  though  it  was  understood  he  had  a  legal  right 
to  all  my  remaining  effects,  in  the  event  of  my  real  death.  No 
will  was  proved  or  produced,  however,  nor  was  any  thing  heard 
of,  or  concerning,  my  cousin  !  Mr.  Daggett  was  a  close  and  re 
served  man,  and  nothing  could  be  learned  on  the  subject  from 
him.  His  right  to  Clawbonny  could  not  be  disputed,  and  after 
consulting  counsel  in  the  premises,  Mr.  Hardinge  himself  had  been 
:'.oinpelled,  reluctantly,  to  admit  it.  Such  was  the  substance  of 


388  MILES      WALLINGFOUD. 

what  I  gleaned  from  the  miller,  in  a  random  sort  of  conversation 
that  lasted  an  Lour.  Of  course,  much  remained  to  be  explain 
ed,  but  I  had  .earned  enough,  to  know  that  I  was  virtually  a 
beggar  as  to  means,  whatever  I  might  be  in  feeling. 

When  I  parted  from  Jarcd  I  gave  him  my  address,  and  we 
were  to  meet  again  next  day.  The  old  man  felt  an  interest  in 
me  that  was  soothing  to  my  feelings,  and  I  wished  to  glean  all 
I  could  from  him ;  more  especially  concerning  Lucy  and  Mr. 
Hardinge.  I  now  followed  Marble  and  Neb  to  the  boarding- 
house,  one  frequented  by  masters  and  mates  of.  ships,  the  mas 
ters  being  of  the  humble  class  to  condescend  thus  to  mingle 
with  their  subordinates.  We  consumed  the  rest  of  the  morn 
ing  in  establishing  ourselves  in  our  rooms,  and  in  putting  on  our 
best  round-abouts  ;  for  I  was  not  the  owner  of  a  coat  that  had 
skirts  to  it,  unless,  indeed,  there  might  be  a  few  old  garments 
of  that  sort  among  the  effects  that  had  been  removed  from 
Clawbonny  to  the  Wright  farm.  Notwithstanding  this  defect 
in  my  wardrobe,  I  would  not  have  the  reader  suppose  I  made 
a  mean  or  a  disagreeable  appearance.  On  the  contrary,  stand 
ing  as  I  did,  six  feet  one,  in  my  shoes,  attired  in  a  neat  blue 
round-about  of  mate's  cloth,  with  a  pair  of  quarter-deck  trow- 
sers,  a  clean  white  shirt,  a  black  silk  handkerchief,  and  a  vest  of 
a  pretty  but  modest  pattern,  I  was  not  a$  all  ashamed  to  be  seen. 
I  had  come  from  England,  a  country  in  which  clothes  are  both 
good  and  cheap,  and  a  trimmer-looking  tar  than  I  then  was, 
seldom  showed  himself  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town. 

Marble  and  I  had  dined,  and  were  preparing  to  sally  forth  on 
a  walk  up  Broadway,  when  I  saw  a  meagre,  care-worn,  bilious- 
looking  sort  of  a  person  enter  the  house,  and  proceed  toward 
the  bar,  evidently  with  an  inquiry  concerning  some  of  the  in 
mates.  The  bar-tender  pointed  at  once  to  me,  when  the  stran 
ger  approached,  and  with  a  species  of  confidence  that  seemed 
to  proclaim  that  he  fancied  news  to  be  the  great  end  of  life, 
and  that  all  who  Averc  engaged  in  its  dissemination  were  privi 
leged  beings,  he  announced  himself  as  Colonel  Warbler,  the 
editor  of  1he  New  York  Republican  Freeman.  I  asked  the 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  389 

gentleman  into  the  common  sitting-room,  when  the  following 
dialogue  took  place  between  us. 

"  We  have  just  heard  of  your  arrival,  Captain  Wallingfbrcl," 
commenced  the  colonel,  all  New  York  editors  of  a  certain  cali 
bre  seeming  to  be,  ex  officio,  of  that  blood-and-thunder  rank, 
"  and  are  impatient  to  place  you,  as  it  might  be,  rectus  in  curia, 
before  the  nation.  Your  case  excited  a  good  deal  of  feeling 
some  months  since,  and  the  public  mind  may  be  said  to  be  pre 
pared  to  learn  the  whole  story  ;  or,  in  a  happy  condition  to  in 
dulge  in  farther  excitement.  If  you  will  have  the  goodness  to 
furnish  me  with  the  outlines,  sir,"  coolly  producing  pen,  ink, 
and  paper  Avithout  farther  ceremony,  and  preparing  to  write, 
"  I  promise  you  that  the  Avhole  narrative  shall  appear  in  the 
Freeman  of  to-morrow,  related  in  a  manner  of  which  you  shall 
have  no  reason  to  complain.  The  caption  is  already  written,  and 
if  you  please,  I  will  read  it  to  you,  before  we  go  any  further." 
Then  without  waiting  to  ascertain  whether  I  did  or  did  not 
please  to  hear  him,  the  colonel  incontinently  commenced  read 
ing  what  he  called  his  caption. 

" '  In  the  Schuylkill,  arrived  lately  at  Philadelphia,  came  pas 
senger  our  esteemed  fellow-citizen,  Captain  Miles  Wallingford' " 
— in  1804  everybody  had  not  got  to  be  esquires,  even  the  ed 
itors  not  yet  assuming  that  title  of  gentility  ex  officio.  " '  This 
gentleman's  wrongs  have  already  been  laid  before  our  readers. 
From  his  own  mouth  we  learn  the  following  outline  of  the  vile 
and  illegal  manner  in  which  he  has  been  treated  by  an  Eng 
lish  man-of-war,  called  the  Speedy,  commanded  by  a  sprig  of 
nobility  y'clept  Lord' — I  have  left  a  blank  for  the  name — '  an 
account  which  will  awaken  in  the  bosom  of  every  true-hearted 
American  sentiments  of  horror  and  feelings  of  indignation  at 
this  new  instance  of  British  faith  and  British  insolence  on  the 
'ngh  seas.  It  will  be  seen  by  this  account,  that  not  satisfied 
with  impressing  all  his  crew  and  in  otherwise  maltreating  them, 
Ihis  scion  of  aristocracy  has  violated  every  article  of.  the  treaty 
between  the  two  countries,  as  respects  Captain  Wallingford  him 
self,  and  otherwise  trodden  on  every  principle  of  honor ;  in  a 


!J90  MILES      WALLINGFCRD. 

word,  set  at  naught  all  the  commandments  of  God.     We  trust 

'  O 

there  will  be  found  no  man  or  set  of  men  in  the  country,  to  de 
fend  such  outrageous  conduct ;  and  that  even  the  minions  of 
England,  employed  around  the  federal  presses  of  our  country, 
will  be  ready  to  join  with  us  on  this  occasion  in  denouncing 
British  aggression  and  British  usurpation.'  There,  sir,  I  trust 
that  is  quite  to  your  liking." 

"It  is  a  little  ex  parte,  colonel,  as  I  have  quite  as  much 
complaint  to  make  of  French  as  of  English  aggression,  having 
been  twice  captured,  once  by  an  English  frigate,  and  again  by  a 
French  privateer.  I  prefer  to  tell  the  whole  story,  if  I  am  to 
tell  any  of  it," 

"  Certainly,  sir ;  we  wish  to  relate  all  the  enormities  of  which 
these  arrogant  English  were  guilty." 

"  I  believe  that,  in  capturing  my  ship,  the  English  com 
mander  did  me  an  act  of  great  injustice,  and  was  the  cause  of 
my  ruin" — 

"  Stop,  sir,  if  you  please,"  interrupted  Colonel  Warbler,  writ 
ing  with  rapidity  and  zeal,  "  and  thus  caused  the  ruin  of  an  in 
dustrious  and  honest  man ;  ay,  that  ends  a  period  beautifully — 
well,  sir,  proceed." 

"But  I  have  no  personal  ill-treatment  to  complain  of;  and 
the  act  of  the  French  was  of  precisely  the  same  character,  per 
haps,  worse,  as  I  had  got  rid  of  the  English  prize  crew,  when 
the  Frenchman  captured  us  in  his  turn,  and  prevented  our  ob 
taining  shelter  and  a  new  crew  in  France."  Colonel  Warbler 
listened  with  cold  indifference.  Not  a  line  would  he  write 
against  the  French,  belonging  to  a  very  extensive  school  of  dis 
seminators  of  news,  who  fancy  it  is  a  part  of  their  high  vocation 
to  tell  just  as  much,  or  just  as  little,  of  any  transaction  as  may 
happen  to  suit  their  own  purposes.  I  pressed  the  injuries  I  had 
received  from  the  French,  on  my  visitor,  so  much  the  more 
warmly  on  account  of  the  reluctance  he  manifested  to  publish 
it ;  but  all  to  no  purpose.  Next  morning  the  Republican  Free 
man  contained  just  such  an  account  of  the  affair  as  comported 
with  the  consistency  of  that  independent  and  manly  journal, 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  391 

not  a  word  being  said  about  the  French,  privateer,  while  the  ac 
count  of  the  proceedings  of  the  English  frigate  was  embellished 
with  sundry  facts  and  epithets  that  must  have  been  obtained 
from  Colonel  Warbler's  general  stock  in  trade,  as  they  were  cer 
tainly  not,  derived  from  me. 

As  soon  as  I  got  rid  of  this  gentleman,  which  was  not  long 
after  he  discovered  my  desire  to  press  the  delinquency  of  the 
French  on  his  notice,  Marble  and  I  left  the  house  on  the  original 
design  of  strolling  up  Broadway,  and  of  looking  at  the  changes 
produced  by  time.  We  had  actually  got  a  square,  when  I  felt 
some  one  touch  my  elbow ;  turning,  I  found  it  was  an  utter 
stranger,  with  a  very  eager,  wonder-mongering  sort  of  a  counte 
nance,  and  who  was  a  good  deal  out  of  breath  with  running. 

"  Your  pardon,  sir ;  the  bar-tender  of  the  house  Avhere  you 
lodge,  tells  me  you  are  Captain  Wallingford."  I  bowed  an  as 
sent,  foreseeing  another  application  for  facts. 

"  Well,  sir,  I  hope  you'll  excuse  the  liberty  I  am  taking,  on 
account  of  its  object.  I  represent  the  public,  which  is  ever  anx 
ious  to  obtain  the  earliest  information  on  all  matters  of  general 
concernment,  and  I  feel  emboldened  by  duty  to  introduce  my 
self — Colonel  Positive,  of  the  Federal  Truth  Teller,  a  journal 
that  your  honored  father  once  did  us  the  favor  to  take.  We 
have  this  moment  heard  of  the  atrocities  committed  on  you, 
Captain  Wallingford,  by  '  a  brigand  of  a  French  piratical,  pica 
rooning,  plundering  vagabond,' "  reading  from  what  I  dare  say 
was  another  caption,  prepared  for  the  other  side  of  the  question, 
"  '  a  fresh  instance  of  Gallic  aggression,  and  republican,  Jacobin 
ical  insolence ;  atrocities  that  are  of  a  character  to  awaken  the 
indignation  of  every  right-thinking  American,  and  which  can 
only  find  abettors  among  that  portion  of  the  community  which, 
possessing  nothing,  is  never  slow  to  sympathize  in  the  success 
of  this  robber,  though  it  be  at  the  expense  of  American  rights, 
and  American  prosperity.' " 

As  soon  as  Colonel  Positive  had  read  this  much,  he  stopped 
to  take  breath,  looking  at  me,  as  if  expecting  some  exclamations 
•jf  admiration  and  delight. 


392  MILES      WALLINGFOKD. 

"  I  Lave  suffered  by  means  of  what  I  conceive  to  be  a  perfect 
ly  unauthorized  act  of  a  French  privateer,  Colonel  Positive,"  1 
replied ;  "  but  this  wrong  would  not  have  been  done  me,  had  I 
not  suffered  previously  "by  what  I  conceive  to  be  an  equally  un 
justifiable  act  of  the  English  frigate,  the  Speedy,  commanded 
by  Captain  Lord  Harry  Dermond,  a  son  of  the  Irish  Marquis  of 
Thole." 

"  Bless  ine,  sir,  this  is  very  extraordinary  !  An  English  frig 
ate,  did  you  say  ?  It  is  very  unusual  for  the  vessels  of  that  just 
nation  ever  to  be  guilty  of  an  aggression,  particularly  as  our 
common  language,  common  descent,  Saxon  ancestors,  and  Sax 
on  English,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  you  know,  operate  against 
it ;  whereas,  sorry  I  am  to  say,  each  new  arrival  brings  us  some 
fresh  instance  of  the  atrocities  of  the  myrmidons  of  this  upstart 
Emperor  of  the  French,  a  man,  sir,  whose  deeds,  sir,  have  never 
been  paralleled  since  the  days  of  Nero,  Caligula,  and  all  the  other 
tyrants  of  antiquity.  If  you  will  favor  me,  Captain  Wallingford, 
with  a  few  of  the  particulars  of  this  last  atrocity  of  Bonaparte, 
I  promise  you  it  shall  be  circulated  far  and  near,  and  that  in  a 
way  to  defy  the  malignant  and  corrupt  perversions  of  any  man 
or  set  of  men." 

I  had  the  cruelty  to  refuse  compliance.  It  made  no  difference, 
however,  for  next  day  the  Federal  Truth  Teller  had  an  account 
of  the  matter,  that  was  probably  as  accurate  as  if  I  had  related 
all  the  events  myself,  and  Avhich  was  also  about  as  true  as  most 
of  the  jeremiads  of  the  journals  that  are  intended  for  brilliant 
effect.  It  was  read  with  avidity  by  all  the  federalists  of  Amer 
ica,  while  its  counterpart  in  the  Republican  Freeman,  passed, 
part  paisu,  through  all  the  democratic  papers,  and  was  devoured 
with  a  similar  appetite  by  the  whole  of  that  side  of  the  question. 
This  distinction,  I  afterward  ascertained,  was  made  by  nearly 
the  whole  country.  If  a  federalist  was  my  auditor,  he  would 
listen  all  day  to  that  part  of  my  story  Avhich  related  to  the  cap 
ture  by  the  French  privateer,  while  it  was  vice  versa  with  the 
democrats.  Most  of  the  merchants  being  federalists,  and  the 
English  having  so  much'  more  connection  with  my  narrative 


MILES      WALLINOFOED.  303 

than  tlic  French,  I  soon  found  I  was  making  myself  exceedingly 
unpopular  by  speaking  on  the  subject  at  all ;  nor  was  it  long 
before  a  story  got  in  circulation,  that  I  was  nothing  but  a  run 
away  English  deserter  myself — I,  the  fifth  Miles  of  my  name  at 
Clawbonny !  As  for  Marble,  men  were  ready  to  swear  he  had 
robbed  his  captain,  and  had  got  off  from  an  English  two-decker 
only  four  years  before.  It  is  unnecessary  to  tell  people  of  the 
world  the  manner  in  which  stories  to  the  prejudice  of  an  unpop 
ular  man  are  fabricated,  and  with  what  industry  they  are  circu 
lated  ;  so  I  shall  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  what  would  have 
been  our  fate,  had  we  not  possessed  the  prudence  to  cease  dwell 
ing  on  our  Avrongs.  Instead  of  thinking  of  appealing  to  the 
authorities  of  my  country  for  redress,  I  felt  myself  fortunate  in 
having  the  whole  affair  forgotten  as  soon  as  possible,  leaving  me 
some  small  portion  of  character. 

I  confess,  while  returning  home,  I  had  sometimes  fancied  I 
might  be  protected  by  the  country  of  which  I  was  a  native,  for 
which  I  had  fought,  and  to  which  I  paid  taxes ;  but  I  Avas  only 
three-and-twenty,  and  did  not  then  understand  the  workings  of 
laws,  particularly  in  a  state  of  society  that  submits  to  have  its 
most  important  interests  under  foreign  control.  Had  I  received 
a  wrong  from  only  a  Frenchman,  or  an  Englishman,  I  should 
have  fared  a  little  better,  in  appearance  at  least,  though  my 
money  was  irretrievably  gone;  for  one  political  party  or  the 
other,  as  the  case  might  have  been,  would  have  held  me  up  to 
ex  parte  sympathy,  so  long  as  it  suited  its  purposes,  or  until  the 
novelty  of  some  new  case  offered  an  inducement  to  supplant  me. 
But  I  had  been  wronged  by  both  belligerents,  and  it  was  soon 
agreed,  by  mutual  consent,  to  drop  the  whole  subject.  As  for 
redress  or  compensation,  I  was  never  fool  enough  to  seek  it. 
On  the  contrary,  finding  how  unpopular  it  made  a  man  among 
the  merchants  to  prove  any  thing  against  Great  Britain  just  at 
that  moment,  I  Avas  wisely  silent,  thus  succeeding  in  saving  my 
character,  which  would  otherwise  have  followed  my  property,  as 
the  shortest  method  of  making  a  troublesome  declairner  hold 
his  tongue. 


394  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

Most  young  persons  will  doubtless  hesitate  to  believe  that 
such  a  state  of  things  could  ever  have  existed  in  a  nation  calling 
itself  independent ;  but,  in  the  first  place,  it  must  be  remember 
ed,  that  the  passions  of  factions  never  leave  their  followers  in 
dependent  of  their  artifices  and  designs ;  and,  in  the  next  place, 
all  who  knew  the  state  of  this  country  in  1804,  must  admit  it 
was  not  independent  in  mind,  of  cither  England  or  France. 
Facts  precede  thought  in  every  thing  among  us ;  and  public 
opinion  was  as  much  in  arrears  of  the  circumstances  of  the  coun 
try,  then,  as — as — to  what  shall  I  liken  it  ? — why,  as  it  is  to-day. 
I  know  no  better  or  truer  parallel.  I  make  no  doubt  that  the 
same  things  would  be  acted  over  again,  were  similar  wrongs  to 
be  committed  by  the  same  powerful  belligerents. 

Marble  was  ludicrously  enraged  at  these  little  instances  of  the 
want  of  true  nationality  in  his  countrymen.  He  was  not  a  man 
to  be  bullied  into  holding  his  tongue ;  and,  for  years  afterward, 
he  expressed  his  opinions  on  the  subject  of  an  American's  losing 
his  ship  and  cargo,  as  I  had  lost  mine,  without  even  a  hope  of 
redress,  with  a  freedom  that  did  more  credit  to  his  sense  of  right 
than  to  his  prudence.  As  for  myself,  as  has  just  been  said,  I 
never  even  attempted  to  procure  justice.  I  knew  its  utter 
hopelessness  ;  and  the  Dawn  and  her  cargo  went  with  the  hun 
dreds  of  other  ships  and  cargoes  that  were  sunk  in  the  political 
void  created  by  the  declaration  of  war  in  1812. 

This  is  an  unpleasant  subject  to  me.  I  could  gladly  have 
passed  it  over,  for  it  proves  that  the  political  association  of  this 
country  failed  in  one  of  the  greatest  ends  of  all  such  associa- 
itons ;  but  nothing  is  ever  gained  by  suppressing  truth,  on  such 
a  matter.  Let  those  who  read  reflect  on  the  past :  it  may  pos 
sibly  have  a  tendency  to  render  the  future  more  secure,  giving 
to  the  American  citizen,  in  reality,  some  of  those  rights  which  it 
BO  much  accords  with  our  habits  to  boast  of  his  possessing.  If 
concealment  did  any  good,  I  would  gladly  be  silent ;  but  dis 
eases  in  the  body  politic  require  a  bold  and  manly  treatment, 
oven  more  than  those  in  the  physical  system.  I  remember  the 
tone  of  the  presses  of  the  trading  towns  of  this  country  on  the 


MILES      WALLINOFORD.  396 

subject  of  tlic  late  French  treaty — one  of  the  most  flagitious  in 
stances  of  contempt,  added  to  wrong,  of  which  history  supplies 
an  instance,  and  will  own  I  do  not  feel  much  encouraged  to 
hope  for  any  great  improvement. 

After  we  got  rid  of  Colonel  No.  2,  Marble  and  I  continued 
our  walk.  We  passed  several  persons  of  my  acquaintance,  but 
not  one  of  them  recognized  me  in  my  present  attire.  I  was 
not  sorry  to  see  this,  as  I  was  wearied  of  my  story,  and  could 
gladly  remain  in  a  species  of  incognito,  for  a  few  days.  But 
New  York  was  comparatively  a  small  town  in  1804,  and  every 
body  knew  almost  everybody's  face  who  was  anybody.  There 
was  little  real  hope,  therefore,  of  my  escaping  recognition  for 
any  great  length  of  time. 

"VVe  strolled  up  above  St.  Paul's,  then  a  high  quarter  of  the 
town,  and  where  a  few  houses  had  been  erected  in  what  was  then 
a  new  and  enlarged  style.  On  the  stoop  of  one  of  these  patri 
cian  residences — to  use  a  word  that  has  since  come  much  into 
use — I  saw  a  fashionably-dressed  man,  standing,  picking  his 
teeth,  with  the  air  of  its  master.  I  had  nearly  passed  this  per 
son,  when  an  exclamation  from  him,  and  his  calling  my  mate  by 
name,  caused  me  to  stop.  It  was  Rupert ! 

"  Marble,  my  dear  fellow,  why,  how  fare  you  ?"  said  our  old 
shipmate,  descending  the  steps,  with  an  indolent,  half-cordial, 
half-condescending  manner ;  extending  his  hand  at  the  same 
time,  which  Moses  received  and  shook  heartily.  "  The  sight  of 
you  reminds  me  of  old  times  and  salt  water !" 

"  Mr.  llardingc,"  answered  my  mate,  Avho  knew  nothing  of 
Rupert's  defects,  beyond  his  want  of  appetite  for  the  sea,  "I'm 
heartily  glad  to  fall  in  with  you.  Do  your  father  and  handsome 
sister  live  here  ?" 

"  Not  they,  old  Moses,"  answered  Rupert,  still  without  cast 
ing  his  eyes  on  me.  "  This  is  my  own  house,  in  which  I  shall 
be  very  happy  to  see  you,  and  to  make  you  acquainted  with  my 
wife,  who  is  also  an  old  acquaintance  of  yours — Miss  Emily  Mer- 
ton  that  was — the  daughter  of  General  Morton,  of  the  British 
army." 


396  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  Blaet  the  British  army !  and  blast  the  British  navy,  too !" 
cried  Marble,  with  more  feeling  than  manners.  "  But  for  the 
last,  our  old  friend  Miles,  here,  would  now  be  a  rich  man." 

"Miles!"  Eupert  repeated,  with  an  astonishment  that  had 
more  nature  in  it  than  had  been  usual  with  him  of  late  years. 
"  This  is  true,  then,  and  you  have  not  been  lost  at  sea,  Wal- 
lingford?" 

"  I  am  living,  as  you  may  see,  Mr.  Hardinge,  and  glad  of  this 
opportunity  to  inquire  after  your  father  and  sister." 

"  Both  are  well,  I  thank  you :  the  old  gentleman,  in  particular, 
will  be  delighted  to  see  you.  He  has  felt  your  misfortunes 
keenly,  and  did  all  he  could  to  avert  the  sad  affair  about  Claw- 
bonny.  You  know  he  could  as  well  raise  a  million,  as  raise  five 
or  ten  thousand  dollars ;  and  poor  Lucy  is  still  a  minor,  and 
can  only  touch  her  income,  the  savings  of  which  were  insuffi 
cient,  just  then.  We  did  all  we  could,  I  can  assure  you,  Wal- 
lingford ;  but  I  was  about  commencing  housekeeping,  and  was 
in  want  of  cash  at  the  moment,  and  you  know  how  it  is  under 
such  circumstances.  Poor  Clawbonny !  I  was  exceedingly  sorry 
when  I  heard  of  it;  though  they  say  this  Mr.  Daggett,  your 
successor,  is  going  to  do  wonders  with  it — a  capitalist,  they  tell 
inc,  and  able  to  carry  out  all  his  plans." 

"  I  am  glad  Clawbonny  has  fallen  into  good  hands,  since  it 
has  passed  out  of  mine.  Good  evening,  Mr.  Hardinge,  I  shall 
take  an  early  opportunity  to  find  your  father,  and  to  learn  the 
particulars." 

"  Yes ;  he'll  be  exceedingly  glad  to  see  you,  TVallingford ; 
and  I'm  sure  it  Avill  always  afford  me  pleasure  to  aid  you,  in 
any  way  I  can.  I  fear  it  must  be  very  low  water  with  you  ?" 

"  If  having  nothing  to  meet  a  balance  of  some  twenty  or 
thirty  thousand  dollars  of  unpaid  debt  is  what  you  call  low 
water,  the  tide  is  out  of  my  pocket,  certainly.  But  I  shall  not 
despair ;  I  am  young,  and  have  a  noble,  manly  profession." 

"Yes,  I  dare  say  you'll  do  remarkably  well,  Wallingford," 
Rupert  answered,  in  a  patronizing  manner.  "  You  were  always 
an  enterprising  fellow ;  and  one  need  have  no  great  concern  for 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  397 

you.  It  would  hardly  "be  delicate  to  ask  you  to  sec  Mrs.  Ilar- 
dinge,  just  as  you  are — not  but  you  appear  uncommonly  well  in 
your  round-about,  but  I  know  precisely  how  it  is  with  young 
men  when  there  are  ladies  in  the  case ;  and  Emily  is  a  little 
over-refined,  perhaps." 

"  Yet,  Mrs.  Hardinge  has  seen  me  often  in  a  round-about, 
and  passed  hours  in  my  company,  when  I  have  been  dressed 
just  as  I  am  at  this  moment." 

"  Ay,  at  sea.  One  gets  used  to  every  thing  at  sea.  Good 
evening ;  I'll  bear  you  in  mind,  Wallingford,  and  may  do  some 
thing  for  you.  I  am  intimate  with  the  heads  of  all  the  principal 
mercantile  houses,  and  shall  bear  you  in  mind,  certainly.  Good 
evening,  Wallingford.  A  word  with  you,  Marble,  before  wo 
part." 

I  smiled  bitterly,  and  walked  proudly  from  before  Eupert's 
door.  Little  did  I  then  know  that  Lucy  was  seated  within 
thirty  feet  of  me,  listening  to  Andrew  Drewctt's  conversation 
and  humor.  Of  the  mood  in  which  she-was  listening,  I  shall 
have  occasion  to  speak  presently.  As  for  Marble,  when  he 
overtook  me,  I  was  informed  that  Eupert  had  stopped  him  in 
order  to  ascertain  our  address;  a  piece  of  condescension  for 
which  I  had  not  the  grace  to  be  thankful. 


MILES     WALUNQFORP. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

"  The  weary  sun  liath  made  a  golden  sot, 
And,  by  the  bright  track  of  his  fiery  car, 
Gives  token  of  a  goodly  day  to-morrow." 

SlIAKSPEAKE. 

I  WAS  quite  as  much  surprised  at  my  own  manner  toward 
Rupert,  as  he  could  be  himself.  No  doubt  he  ascribed  it  to 
my  fallen  fortune,  for,  at  the  commencement  of  the  interview, 
he  was  a  good  deal  confused,  and  his  confidence  rose  in  propor 
tion  as  he  fancied  mine  was  lessened.  The  moderation  I  mani 
fested,  however,  was  altogether  owing  to  Lucy,  whose  influence 
on  my  feelings  never  ceased.  As  for  Marble,  he  thought  all 
was  right,  and  was  very  decided  in  his  approval  of  Rupert's  be 
havior  and  appearance. 

"  'Tisn't  every  man  that  can  make  a  seaman,  Miles,"  he  said, 
"  for  it's  a  gift  that  comes  nat'rally,  like  singing,  or  rope-dan 
cing.  I  dare  say  Rupert  will  do  very  well  ashore,  in  the  gen 
tleman  line,  though  he's  no  great  catch  afloat,  as  all  Avill  admit 
who  ever  sailed  with  him.  The  lad  don't  want  for  stuff",  but 
it's  shore  stuff  a'tcr  all;  and  that  will  never  pass  muster  in  blue 
water.  I  dare  say,  now,  this  Imperor-Gineral,  Bonaparte,  would 
make  a  bloody  poor  shipmaster,  if  a  body  was  to  try  him." 

I  made  no  answer,  and  we  strolled  on  until  dark.  Then  we 
returned  to  our  lodgings,  and  turned  in.  Next  morning  we 
breakfasted  with  the  rest,  and  I  was  about  to  set  out  in  search 
of  a  lawyer,  to  take  his  opinion  on  the  subject  of  my  insurance, 
though  I  had  little  or  no  hope  of  recovering  any  thing,  when  I 
was  told  two  gentlemen  wished  to  see  me.  At  first  sight,  I 
fancied  that  more  editors  were  in  quest  of  news  ;  but  we  were 
no  sooner  alone  together,  than  one  of  these  persons  let  me  into 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  399 

JIG  secret  of  his  errand,  in  a  way  that  was  well  enough  as  re 
spects  the  suavitcr  in  modo,  while  it  could  not  be  said  to  be  in 
the  least  deficient  in  ihefortiter  in  re. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,  Captain  Wallingford,"  this  person  com 
menced,  "  that  I  have  a  writ  to  arrest  you,  for  a  sum  that  will 
require  very  respectable  bail — no  less  than  sixty  thousand  dol 
lars." 

"  Well  done,  my  upright  cousin,"  I  muttered  ;  "  this  is  los 
ing  no  time,  certainly.  I  owe  half  that  money,  I  admit,  sir,  if 
my  farm  only  sold  for  five  thousand  dollars,  as  I  hear,  and  I 
suppose  I  am  arrested  for  the  penalty  of  my  bond.  But,  at 
whose  suit  am  I  thus  pursued  ?" 

Here,  the  second  person  announced  himself  as  the  attorney 
of  the  plaintiff,  excusing  his  presence  on  the  pretence  that  he 
hoped  to  be  of  service  in  amicably  arranging  the  affair. 

"  My  client  is  Mr.  Thomas  Daggett,  of  Clawbonny,  Ulster 
county,  Avho  holds  your  bonds  as  the  administrator  of  the  estate 
of  the  late  John  Wallingford,  deceased,  a  gentleman  to  whom  I 
believe  you  were  related." 

"  The  late  John  Wallingford  !     Is  my  cousin  then  dead  ?" 

"  He  departed  this  life  eight  months  since,  dying  quite  unex 
pectedly.  Letters  of  administration  have  been  granted  to  Mr. 
Daggett,  who  is  a  son  of  his  mother's  sister,  and  a  principal  heir, 
the  party  dying  intestate.  It  is  a  great  pity  that  the  law  ex 
cludes  you  from  the  succession,  being  as  you  are  of  the  name." 

"  My  kinsman  gave  me  reason  to  think  I  was  to  be  his  heir, 
as  it  was  understood  he  was  to  be  mine.  My  will  in  his  favor 
was  left  in  his  hands." 

"  We  arc  aware  of  that,  sir,  and  your  death  being  supposed, 
for  a  considerable  period,  it  was  thought  your  personals  would 
descend  to  us,  in  part,  by  devise,  which  might  have  prevented 
the  necessity  of  taking  the  unpleasant  step  to  which  we  are  now 
driven.  The  question  was,  which  died  first,  you,  or  your  cous 
in,  and  that  fact,  you  will  easily  understand,  we  had  no  means 
of  establishing.  As  it  is,  the  duty  of  the  administrator  compels 
him  to  proceed,  with  as  little  delay  as  possible." 


400  MILES      WALLINGFOKD. 

"  I  have  no  altci  native,  then,  but  to  go  to  jail.  I  know  not 
the  person  on  earth  I  can  or  could  ask  to  become  my  bail  for 
a  sum  as  large  as  even  that  I  justly  owe,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
penalty  of  the  bond." 

"I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  this,  Captain  Wallingford,"  Mr. 
Meekly,  the  attorney,  very  civilly  replied.  "  We  will  walk  to 
gether,  leaving  the  officer  to  follow.  Perhaps  the  matter  may 
be  arranged  amicably." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  sir.  But,  before  quitting  this  house,  I 
will  discharge  my  bill,  and  communicate  my  position  to  a  couple 
of  friends,  who  are  waiting  in  the  passage." 

Neb  was  one  of  these  friends,  for  I  felt  I  was  fast  getting  into 
a  condition  which  rendered  the  friendship  of  even  my  slaves  of 
importance  to  me.  That  worthy  fellow  and  Marble  joined  us 
on  a  signal  from  me,  when  I  simply  let  them  into  the  secret  of 
my  affairs. 

"  Arrested !"  said  Moses,  eyeing  the  sheriff's  officer  with  sov 
ereign  contempt,  though  he  was  a  sturdy  fellow,  and  one  who 
had  every  disposition  to  do  his  duty.  "  Arrested  !  Why,  Miles, 
you  can  handle  both  these  chaps  yourself,  and  with  Neb's  and  my 
assistance,  could  work  'em  up  into  spun-yarn  without  a  winch !" 

"  That  may  be  true,  Moses,  but  I  cannot  handle  the  law,  even 
with  your  powerful  aid ;  nor  should  I  wish  to  if  I  could.  I  am 
bound  to  jail,  my  friends,  having  no  bail,  so" — 

"  Bail !  Why  /'ll  be  your  bail ;  and  if  you  want  two,  there's 
Neb." 

"I  fancy  the  gentleman  don't  much  understand  being  taken 
on  a  writ,"  the  attorney  simpered. 

"  I  not  understand  it !  That's  a  bloody  poor  guess  of  your'n, 
my  friend.  When  we  had  the  scrape  with  the  Hamburghers,  iii 
Philadclphy,  it's  now  coming  thirty  years" — 

"  Never  mind  all  that  just  now,  Moses.  I  wish  you  to  pay 
my  bill  here ;  give  Neb  the  small  bag  of  my  clothes  to  bring  up 
to  the  jail,  and  keep  my  other  effects  under  your  own  care.  Of 
course  you  will  come  to  see  me  by-and-by ;  but  I  now  order 
vou  not  to  follow  us." 


MILKS      WALLIN&FORD.  401 

I  then  left  the  house  with  a  rapidity  that  gave  the  officer 
some  uneasiness,  I  believe.  Once  in  the  street,  however,  my 
pace  became  more  moderate,  and  dropping  alongside  of  the  at 
torney,  we  fell  into  discourse  on  the  subject  of  the  arrangement. 

"  To  be  frank  with  you,  Captain  Wallingford,"  said  Meekly, 
"  my  client  never  expects  to  recover  the  full  amount  of  his  de 
mand  ;  it  being  understood  your  personals  are  now  limited  to 
certain  jewelry,  the  stock  of  your  late  farm,  a  few  negroes,  a 
sloop,  some  furniture,  etc.  No,  sir,  we  do  not  expect  to  obtain 
the  whole  of  our  demand.  Certain  securities  in  our  hands  will 
extinguish  much  of  it,  though  a  large  balance  will  remain." 

"As  Mr.  Daggett  has  already  got  real  estate  richly  worth 
five-and-thirty  thousand  dollars,  and  which  brings  a  clear  two 
thousand  a  year,  to  say  nothing  of  its  advantages  as  a  residence, 
besides  bonds  and  mortgages  for  twenty-odd  thousand  more,  I 
am  fully  sensible  of  his  moderation.  The  forty  thousand  dollars 
I  owed  my  cousin  will  be  amply  repaid  to  his  heirs,  though  I 
pass  my  life  in  jail." 

"You  misapprehend  the  affair,  entirely.  Mr.  Daggett  does 
not  hold  Clawbonny  as  administrator  at  all,  but  as  a  purchaser 
under  a  mortgage  sale.  He  did  not  buy  it  himself,  of  course, 
but  has  received  a  deed  from  a  nephew  of  his,  who  was  a  bona 
fide  bidder.  The  amount  bid — five  thousand  two  hundred  and 
lifty  dollars — is  duly  endorsed  on  your  bond,  and  you  have 
credit  for  it.  If  no  one  bid  higher,  the  property  had  to  go." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  very  well  understand  how  property  goes,  in  the 
absence  of  the  debtor,  at  forced  sales.  But  what  is  the  nature 
of  the  proposition  you  intend  to  make  ?" 

"Mr.  Daggett  understands  you  possess  some  very  valuable 
pearls,  that  are  supposed  to  be  worth  one  thousand  dollars,  with 
a  good  deal  of  plate,  etc.,  etc.  Now,  he  proposes  that  you  as 
sign  to  the  estate  he  represents  all  your  personals  at  an  apprais 
al,  when  he  will  credit  you  with  the  amount,  and  suspend  pro 
ceedings  for  the  balance.  In  a  word,  give  you  time." 

"  And  what  idea  has  Mr.  Daggett  of  the  sum  I  should  thus 
receive !" 


402  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  lie  is  disposed  to  be  liberal,  and  thinks  you  might  get  credit 
for  about  four  thousand  dollars." 

"My  personal  property,  including  the  pearls  of  which  you 
speak,  quite  a  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  plate,  even  at  the  price 
of  old  silver,  the  sloop,  the  stock,  horses,  carriages,  farming 
utensils,  and  without  counting  the  slaves,  all  of  whom  I  intend 
*o  set  free,  if  the  law  will  allow  it,  must  nearly  or  quite  double 
that  sum,  sir.  Unless  Mr.  Daggett  is  disposed  to  raise  his  views 
of  the  value  of  my  effects,  I  should  prefer  to  remain  in  custody, 
and  see  Avhat  I  can  do  by  private  sale.  As  he  will  receive  every 
cent  of  the  securities  received  from  my  sister's  estate,  quite 
$22,000,  and  now  possesses  more  than  $5,000  from  Clawbonny, 
the  balance  I  shall  really  owe  cannot  exceed  $13,000." 

"  Were  you  to  confess  judgment,  sir,  and  leave  the  property 
under  execution" — 

"I'll  do  nothing  of  the  sort,  Mr.  Meekly — on  that  subject  my 
mind  is  made  up.  One  forced  sale  is  quite  enough  for  a  novice." 

"  We  shall  soon  reach  the  jail,  sir — perhaps  its  sight  may" — 

"  It  will  not,  sir.  Whenever  Mr.  Daggett  shall  be  disposed 
to  receive  my  property  at  a  just  valuation,  I  may  be  ready  to 
arrange  the  matter  with  him,  for  I  have  no  disposition  to  deny 
the  debt,  or  to  avoid  its  payment ;  but,  as  he  has  adopted  his 
own  mode  of  proceeding,  I  am  ready  to  abide  by  it.  Good 
morning,  Mr.  Meekly ;  I  see  no  use  in  your  accompanying  me 
any  further." 

I  was  thus  decided,  because  I  saw  I  had  to  deal  with  an  ex 
tortioner.  A  rogue  himself,  Mr.  Daggett  was  afraid  I  might 
get  rid  of  my  personal  property  before  he  could  issue  an  execu 
tion  by  the  regular  mode ;  and  he  anticipated  frightening  or 
constraining  me  into  an  arrangement.  It  would  be  my  business 
to  disappoint  him ;  and  I  assumed  an  air  of  confidence  that 
soon  shook  off  my  companion.  A  few  minutes  later,  the  key 
of  the  old  stone  debtor's  jail  was  turned  upon  me.  I  had  a  lit 
tle  money,  and  reluctant  to  be  shut  up  with  the  company  I 
found  in  the  building,  I  succeeded  in  procuring  a  small,  ill- 
furnished  room,  to  myself. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  403 

These  preliminaries  were  hardly  settled,  when  Neb  was  ad 
mitted  with  the  bag.  The  poor  fellow  had  been  in  tears  ;  for 
he  not  only  felt  for  me,  but  he  felt  for  the  disgrace  and  misfor 
tune  which  had  alighted  on  the  whole  Clawbonny  stock.  He 
had  yet  to  learn  that  the  place  itself  was  gone,  and  I  shrank 
from  telling  him  the  fact ;  for,  to  his  simple  mind,  it  would  be 
like  forcing  body  and  soul  asunder.  All  the  negroes  consider 
ed  themselves  as  a  part  of  Clawbonny,  and  a  separation  must 
Live  appeared  in  their  eyes  like  some  natural  convulsion.  Neb 
brought  me  a  letter.  It  was  scaled  with  wax,  and  bore  the  im 
pression  of  the  Hardinge  arms.  There  was  also  an  envelope,  and 
the  address  had  been  written  by  Rupert.  In  short,  every  thing 
about  this  letter  denoted  ease,  fashion,  fastidiousness,  and  the 
observance  of  forms.  I  lost  no  time  in  reading  the  contents, 
which  I  copy,  verbatim. 

"  Broadway,  Wednesday  morning. 
"  DEAR  WALLINGFORD  : 

"  It  has  just  occurred  to  me  that  the  enclosed  may  be  of  ser 
vice  to  you  ;  and  I  reproach  myself  for  not  having  bethought 
me  of  your  probable  necessities  when  I  saw  you.  I  regret  it  is 
not  in  my  power  to  ask  you  to  dine  with  me,  en  famille,  to 
day  ;  but  Mrs.  Hardinge  has  company,  and  we  arc  engaged  out 
every  other  day  this  week.  I  shall  fall  in  with  you  again,  some 
day,  however,  when  I  hope  to  be  less  engaged.  Lucy  has  just 
heard  of  your  safety  and  arrival,  and  has  gone  to  write  a  note  to 
my  father,  who  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  you  are  still  in  the 
land  of  the  living.  The  general,  who  lives  with  us,  desires  to 
be  mentioned,  and  hopes  when  he  returns  to  England,  it  may 
be  as  your  passenger.  Adieu,  dear  Wallingford  ;  I  shall  never 
forget  our  boyish  pranks,  which,  I  dare  say,  sometimes  cause 
yon  to  smile. 

"  Yours,  etc., 

"  RUPERT  HARDINGE." 

This  letter  contained  a  bank-note  for  twenty  dollars !     Yes, 


404  MILES      AV  ALLIN  G  F  O  RD. 

the  man  to  whom  I  had  given  twenty  thousand  dollars,  sent  me, 
in  my  distress,  this  generous  donation,  to  relieve  my  Avants.  I 
need  hardly  say  I  sent  the  bank-note  back  to  him  by  the  hands 
of  Neb,  on  the  instant,  with  a  cold  note  of  acknoAvledgment.  I 
had  no  occasion  for  his  charity,  at  least. 

I  passed  a  most  uncomfortable  hour  alone,  after  Neb  was 
gone.  Then  a  turnkey  came  to  inform  me  that  a  gentleman 
and  lady — a  clergyman,  he  believed — were  in  the  private  parlor, 
and  wished  to  see  me.  It  Avas  doubtless  Mr.  Hardinge — could 
his  companion  be  Lucy  ?  I  was  too  anxious,  too  eager,  to  lose 
any  time,  and,  rushing  toward  the  room,  Avas  at  once  admitted. 
There  they  Avere — Lucy  and  her  father.  Neb  had  seen  Chloe, 
in  calling  at  Rupert's  door — had  heard  much  and  told  much. 
Mr.  Hardinge  Avas  on  the  point  of  going  in  quest  of  me ;  but, 
learning  Avhere  I  Avas,  he  had  barely  given  his  daughter  time  to 
put  on  a  hat  and  shaAvl,  and  conducting  her  across  the  Park, 
brought  her  himself  to  A'isit  me  in  prison.  I  saw,  at  a  glance, 
that  Lucy  was  dreadfully  agitated ;  that  she  Avas  pale,  though 
still  handsomer  than  ever ;  and  that  she  Avas  Lucy  herself,  in 
character,  as  in  person. 

"  Miles,  my  dear,  dear  boy !"  cried  the  good  old  divine,  fold 
ing  me  in  his  arms,  "  for  this  mercy,  may  God  alone  receive  the 
praise !  Everybody  gave  you  up,  but  Lucy  and  myself,  and  we 
could  not,  would  not  believe  you,  too,  Avere  lost  to  us  forever !" 

As  my  former  guardian  still  clasped  me  to  his  bosom,  as  if  I 
still  remained  a  child,  I  could  perceive  that  dear  Lucy  was  Avecp- 
ing  as  if  ready  to  break  her  heart.  Then  she  looked  up,  and 
tried  to  smile ;  though  I  could  see  the  effort  Avas  made  solely 
on  my  account.  I  caught  her  extended  hand,  and  kissed  it  over 
and  over  again.  The  dear,  dear  girl  trembled  in  every  fibre  of 
her  body. 

"  All  my  misfortunes  are  forgotten,"  I  cried,  "  in  finding  you 
thus,  in  finding  you  unchanged,  in  finding  you  still  Lucy  Har 
dinge  !" 

I  scarce  knew  Avhat  I  Avas  uttering,  though  I  saw  Lucy's  face 
was  covered  Avith  blushes,  and  that  a  smile,  Avhich  I  found  of  in- 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  405 

explicable  signification,  now  rose  readily  enough  to  her  beautiful 
mouth.  On  the  whole,  I  think  there  must  have  been  some  eight 
•  or  ten  minutes,  during  which  neither  of  the  three  knew  particu 
larly  well  what  was  said  or  done.  Lucy  was  both  smiles  and 
tears;  though  keen  anxiety  to  know  what  had  occurred,  and 
how  I  came  to  be  in  jail,  was  strongly  expressed  in  her  coun 
tenance,  as  well  as  in  some  of  her  words.  As  for  myself,  I  was 
beside  myself,  and  acted  like  a  fool. 

After  a  time,  we  were  all  seated,  when  I  narrated  the  manner 
in  which  I  had  lost  my  ship,  and  the  reason  why  Clawbonny  had 
been  sold,  and  why  I  supposed  I  was  thus  arrested. 

"  I  am  glad  my  cousin,  John  Wallingford,  had  no  concern 
with  these  transactions ;  though  I  deeply  regret  the  reason  why 
my  bond  has  passed  into  other  hands.  It  would  have  rendered 
my  misfortunes  still  harder  to  be  borne,  could  I  suppose  that  a 
kinsman  had  laid  so  deep  a  plot  to  ruin  me,  under  the  sem 
blance  of  kindness.  His  death,  however,  sets  that  point  at  rest." 

"  I  do  not  like  his  talking  of  making  you  his  heir,  and  neg 
lecting  to  do  it,"  rejoined  Mr.  Hardinge.  "Men  should  never 
promise,  and  forget  to  redeem  their  Avords.  It  has  a  suspicious 
look." 

Lucy  had  not  spoken  the  whole  time  I  was  relating  my  story. 
Her  serene  eye  beamed  on  me  in  a  way  to  betray  the  interest 
she  felt;  but  not  a  syllable  escaped  her  until  her  father  had 
made  the  observation  just  given. 

"  It  is  of  no  moment,  now,"  she  then  said,  "  what  may  have 
been  the  motive  of  Mr.  John  Wallingford.  With  Miles,  I  thought 
him  a  rough,  but  an  honest  man ;  but  honest  men  may  be  par 
doned  for  not  foreseeing  their  own  sudden  deaths.  The  ques 
tion,  now,  my  dear  father,  is,  how  Miles  can  be  got  out  of 
this  wretched  place,  in  the  shortest  possible  time." 

"Ay,  Miles,  my  dear  boy.;  Heaven  forbid  you  should  sleep  in 
such  a  spot.  How  shall  we  go  to  work  ?" 

"  I  am  afraid,  sir,  I  shall  sleep  many  nights  here.  The  debt  1 
really  owe  is  about  thirteen  thousand  dollars;  and  the  writ,  I  be 
lieve,  is  issued  for  the  entire  penalty  of  the  bond.  As  the  mo- 


406  MILES      WALLINOFO11B. 

tivc  for  arresting  me  is,  probably,  to  drive  me  into  a  compro 
misc,  by  confessing  judgment,  and  giving  up  my  personal  prop 
erty  to  be  sacrificed,  as  Clawbonny  lias  been,  it  is  not  probable 
that  bail  for  a  less  amount  than  the  law  allows  the  plaintiff  tc 
claim,  will  be  received.  I  do  not  know  the  man  A\ho  will  be 
come  surety  for  me  in  that  amount." 

"  Well,  I  know  two — Rupert  and  myself." 

The  idea  of  receiving  such  a  favor  from  Rupert  was  particu 
larly  unpleasant  to  me ;  and  I  saw  by  the  expression  of  Lucy's 
face  that  she  entered  into  my  feelings. 

"  I  am  afraid,  sir,"  I  said,  after  thanking  Mr.  Hardinge  by  a 
warm  pressure  of  the  hand,  "that  you  arc  not  rich  enough.  The 
deputy  sheriff  has  told  me  he  has  instructions  to  be  rigid  about 
the  bail ;  and  I  apprehend  neither  you,  nor  Rupert,  can  swear 
he  is  worth  fifty  thousand  dollars." 

"  Bless  me !  bless  me !     Is  that  really  necessary,  Miles  V 

"  If  required,  I  believe  the  law  insists  on  security  to  the 
amount  of  the  judgment  claimed.  Rupert  lives  largely,  I  see, 
and  yet  I  doubt  if  he  would  be  willing  to  swear  to  that." 

Mr.  Hardinge's  face  became  very  sorrowful ;  and  he  paused  a 
moment  before  answering. 

"I  am  not  in  Rupert's  secrets,  neither  is  Lucy,"  ho  then  said. 
"  I  hope  all  is  right ;  though  the  thought  that  he  might  possibly 
play,  has  sometimes  crossed  my  anxious  mind.  lie  is  married 
to  Miss  Merton ;  has  purchased  and  furnished  a  Broadway  house, 
and  is  living  at  a  large  rate.  When  I  spoke  to  him  on  the  sub 
ject,  he  asked  me  if  I  thought  '  English  ladies  of  condition  gave 
empty  hands  in  marriage  ?'  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  my  dear 
Miles,  but  I  always  fancied  that  the  Mertons  had  nothing  but 
the  colonel's  salary  to  live  on." 

"Major  Merton,"  I  answered,  laying  an  emphasis  on  the 
brevet  rank  the  worthy  individual  actually  possessed,  "Major 
Merton  has  told  me  as  much  as  this,  himself." 

Mr.  Hardinge  actually  groaned,  and  I  saw  that  Lucy  turned 
pale  as  death.  The  former  had  no  knowledge  of  the  true  char 
acter  of  his  son ;  but  he  had  all  the  apprehensions  that  a  father 


MILES     WALLINGFORB.  407 

would  naturally  feel  under  such  circumstances.     I  saw  the  no 
cessity — nay,  the  humanity,  of  relieving  both. 

"  You  know  me  too  well,  my  dear  guardian — excellent  Lucy 
— to  think  that  I  would  deliberately  deceive  either  of  you. 
What  I  now  tell  you,  is  to  prevent  Rupert  from  being  too 
harshly  judged.  I  know  whence  Rupert  derived  a  large  sum  of 
money,  previously  to  my  sailing.  It  was  legally  obtained,  and 
is,  or  was,  rightfully  his.  I  do  not  say  it  was  large  enough 
long  to  maintain  him  in  the  style  in  which  he  lives ;  but  it  can 
so  maintain  him  a  few  years.  You  need  fear  neither  cards,  nor 
positive  dishonesty.  Rupert  has  no  disposition  for  cither :  ho 
dislikes  the  first,  and  is  too  prudent  for  the  last." 

"  God  be  thanked  for  this !"  the  divine  exclaimed  devoutly. 
"  I  had  really  frightened  myself  with  my  own  folly.  So,  so, 
Master  Rupert,  you  have  been  making  money  and  holding  your 
peace  !  "Well,  I  like  his  modesty ;  Rupert  is  clever,  Miles,  and 
I  trust  will  one  day  take  an  honorable  station  at  the  bar.  His 
marriage  has  been  a  little  too  early  for  one  of  his  means,  per 
haps  ;  but  I  feel  encouraged  now  that  I  find  he  can  make  money 
honorably,  and  legally,  and  justly." 

I  had  said  nothing  of  the  honorable,  or  the  just ;  but  what 
weakness  will  not  parental  affection  encourage  ?  As  for  Lucy, 
her  countenance  told  me  she  suspected  the  truth.  Never  be 
fore  had  I  seen  on  those  usually  placid,  and  always  lovely  fea 
tures,  an  expression  of  so  much  humiliation.  For  a  single  in 
stant,  it  almost  amounted  to  anguish.  Recovering  her  self- 
possession,  however,  she  was  the  first  to  turn  the  discourse  vo  its 
proper  channel. 

"  All  this  time  we  are  forgetting  Miles,"  she  said.  "  It  would 
eeem,  father,  that  he  thinks  neither  you,  nor  Rupert,  rich  enough 
to  be  his  bail — can  /  be  of  any  use  in  this  way  ?" 

Lucy  spoke  firmly,  and  in  the  manner  of  one  who  was  begin 
ning  to  be  accustomed  to  consider  herself  of  some  account  in 
the  way  of  money ;  but  a  bright  flush  suffused  her  face,  as  she 
thus  seemed  to  make  herself  of  more  moment  than  was  her 
svont  .—to  pass  out  of  her  sex,  as  it  might  be. 


408  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  A  thousand  tlianks,  dearest  Lucy,  for  the  offer,"  I  said, 
eagerly  "  but  could  you  become  my  bail,  I  certainly  would  not 
permit  it.  It  is  enough  that  you  come  to  visit  me  here,  with 
out  further  connecting  your  name  with  my  debts.  A  minor, 
however,  cannot  become  security.  Mr.  Daggett  will  keep  mo 
here  a  few  weeks  ;  when  he  finds  I  am  employing  agents  to  sell 
my  effects,  I  fancy  he  is  sufficiently  a  rogue  himself  to  appre 
hend  the  money  will  get  beyond  the  reach  of  his  execution,  and 
he  will  offer  to  compromise.  Once  at  large,  I  can  always  go  to 
sea ;  if  not  as  master,  at  least  as  a  mate." 

"  Had  we  been  as  proud  as  yourself,  Miles,  Clawbonny  would 
have  been  less  dear  to  us." 

"  It  is  not  pride,  but  propriety,  Lucy,  to  prevent  you  from 
doing  a  thing  for  which  there  is  no  necessity,  and  which  might 
subject  you  to  impertinent  observations.  No,  I'll  set  about  dis 
posing  of  my  personal  property  at  once ;  that  will  soon  bring 
Mr.  Daggett  to  some  sense  of  decency." 

"  If  a  minor  cannot  be  received  as  bail,  there  is  no  more  to  be 
said,"  Lucy  answered  ;  "  else  would  I  prove  to  you,  Miles,  that 
I  can  be  as  obstinate  as  you  are  yourself.  At  all  events,  I  can 
be  a  purchaser  of  jewels,  if  wanting  a  few  months  of  my  major 
ity  ;  fortunately,  I  have  nearly  a  year's  income  on  hand.  You 
sec,  Miles" — Lucy  again  blushed  brightly,  though  she  smiled 
— "  what  an  accountant  I  am  getting  to  be — but  I  can  com 
mence  at  once  by  purchasing  your  pearls.  They  are  already 
in  my  possession  for  safe  keeping,  and  many  is  the  covetous 
glance  they  have  received  from  me.  Those  precious  pearls !  I 
think  you  valued  them  at  three  thousand  dollars,  Miles,"  Lucy 
continued,  "and  my  father  will  at  once  pay  you  that  sum  on  my 
behalf.  Then  send  for  the  lawyer  of  your  persecutor,  for  I  can 
call  him  nothing  else,  and  offer  to  pay  that  much  on  his  demand 
provided  he  will  accept  my  father  as  bail.  If  he  be  the  sort  of 
being  you  fancy  him,  and  so  his  acts  I  think  prove  him  to  ln\ 
he  will  be  glad  to  accept  the  offer." 

I  was  delighted  at  the  readiness  of  resources  this  proved  in 
Lucy,  nor  was  the  project  in  the  least  unlikely  to  succeed. 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  409 

Could  I  get  four  or  five  thousand  dollars  together,  I  had  no 
doubt  Daggett  would  accept  Mr.  Hardinge  for  bail,  as  it  was 
only  as  surety  for  my  appearance  in  court.  That  was  then  re 
quired,  and  no  one  could  really  think  I  would  abscond  and  leave 
my  old  guardian  in  the  lurch.  Still,  I  could  not  think  of  thus 
robbing  Lucy.  Left  to  her  own  sense  of  propriety,  I  well  knew 
she  would  never  dream  of  investing  so  large  a  sum  as  the  pearls 
were  really  worth,  in  ornaments  for  her  person,  and  the  pearls 
were  worth  but  little  more  than  half  the  sum  she  had  named. 

"  This  will  not  do,"  I  answered,  expressing  my  gratitude  with 
my  eyes,  "  and  no  more  need  be  said  about  it.  I  cannot  rob 
you,  dearest  Lucy,  because  you  are  so  ready  to  submit  to  be 
robbed.  Leave  me  here  a  few  days,  and  Mr.  Meekly  will  come 
to  volunteer  a  plan  of  setting  me  free." 

"I  have  it!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hardinge,  jumping  up  and  seiz 
ing  his  hat.  "  Lucy,  I'll  be  back  in  fifteen  minutes  ;  then  we'll 
bear  Miles  off  in  triumph,  to  your  own  house.  Yes,  yes,  the 
scheme  cannot  fail,  Avith  a  lawyer  of  any  respectability." 

"May  I  know  what  it  is,  dear  papa?"  Lucy  asked,  glancing 
expressively  toward  me. 

"  Why  it's  just  this.  I'll  go  and  find  the  bishop,  who'll  do 
any  thing  to  oblige  me,  and  he  and  I'll  go,  in  company,  to  this 
Mr.  Meekly's  office,  and  pledge  our  words  as  divines,  that  Miles 
shall  appear  in  court,  as  the  under-sheriff  told  me  would  be  re 
quired,  when  all  will  be  settled  to  our  heart's  content.  On  my 
way  to  the  bishop's,  I'll  just  step  in  at  Richard  Harrison's  office, 
and  take  his  opinion  in  the  matter." 

"  Well,  sir,  the  notion  of  seeing  Richard  Harrison  is  a  good 
one.  He  may  suggest  something  in  the  way  of  practice  that 
will  be  useful  to  us.  If  you  could  step  across  the  way  and  get 
him  to  pay  me  a  short  visit,  I  should  be  infinitely  obliged  to  you. 
I  was  about  to  take  his  advice  on  the  subject  of  my  insurance 
when  arrested,  and  I  wish  that  point  disposed  of." 

Mr.  Hardinge  listened  attentively,  and  then  he  left  the  room, 
telling  Lucy  he  would  be  back  in  a  few  minutes.  It  might  have 
been  an  awkward  situation  for  most  young  ladies,  thus  to  be  lefl/ 
IS 


410  MILES     WALLINGFOUD. 

alone  with  a  prisoner  in  jail ;  but  Lucy  was  so  much  accus 
tomed  to  the  intimacy  that  bound  us  together,  I  do  not  think 
its  peculiarities  struck  her  at  the  moment.  When  her  father 
went  out  of  the  room,  she  was  in  deep  thought,  nor  did  she  ap 
pear  to  rouse  herself  from  it,  until  he  had  been  gone  some  little 
time.  Lucy  was  seated,  but  I  had  risen  to  see  Mr.  Ilardinge 
to  the  door  of  the  room,  and  was  walking  slowly  back  and 
forth.  The  dear  girl  arose,  came  to  me, -took  one  of  my  hands 
in  both  her  own,  and  looked  anxiously  into  my  face  for  some 
little  time  ere  she  spoke. 

"  Miles,"  she  said,  "  I  will  say  no  more  of  the  pearls,  no  more 
of  my  own  money,  and  will  prevent  all  allusion  to  Rupert's  ap 
pearing  in  your  behalf,  if  you  will  accept  the  bail  I  can  provide 
for  you.  I  know  a  gentleman  who  will  accept  my  word  as  his 
surety,  who  is  rich  enough  to  be  received,  and  who  is  under  a 
deep  obligation  to  you,  for  I  have  often  heard  him  say  as  much. 
You  may  not  know  how  ready  he  will  be  to  oblige  you,  but  I  do, 
and  I  now  ask  you  to  give  me  your  word  you  will  not  refuse  his 
assistance,  even  though  he  should  be  an  utter  stranger  to  you." 

"  How  is  it  possible,  Lucy,  that  you  can  have  any  knowledge 
of  such  a  person  ?" 

"  0 !  you  cannot  imagine  what  a  woman  of  business  I  am  be 
coming.  You  would  not  refuse  me  for  your  bail,  were  I  a  man, 
and  of  age,  Miles  ?" 

"  Certainly  not — feeling  as  I  do  toward  you,  Lucy,  I  would 
sooner  receive  such  a  favor  from  you,  than  from  any  human 
being.  But  you  arc  not  a  man,  thank  God,  nor  of  age." 

"  Then  promise  me  the  small  favor  of  accepting  this  service 
from  the  person  I  shall  send  to  you.  It  would  break  all  our 
hearts  to  think  you  were  remaining  here  in  jail,  while  we  are 
living  in  luxury.  I  will  not  relinquish  your  hand,  till  you  give 
me  a  promise." 

"  That  look  is  sufficient,  Lucy  ;  I  promise  all  you  can  ask." 

So  intense  had  the  feelings  of  the  dear  girl  become,  that  she 
burst  into  tears,  the  moment  her  mind  was  relieved,  and  covered 
her  face  with  both  hands.  It  was  but  a  passing  burst  of  feel 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  411 

ing,  and  a  radiant  smilo  soon  chased  every  trace  of  sorrow  from 
her  sweet,  sweet  countenance. 

"  Now,  Miles,  I  am  certain  we  shall  soon  have  you  out  of  this 
horrid  place,"  she  cried ;  "  and  before  the  execution  they  tell 
us  of,  can  issue,  as  they  call  it,  we  shall  have  time  to  make  some 
proper  arrangement  for  you.  I  shall  be  of  age,  by  that  time ; 
and  I  can  at  least  become  your  creditor  instead  of  that  odious 
Mr.  Daggett.  You  would  not  hesitate  to  owe  me  money,  Miles, 
in  preference  to  him  ?" 

"  Dearest  Lucy,  there  is  nothing  I  would  not  be  willing  to 
owe  to  you,  and  that  in  preference  to  any  other  living  creature, 
not  even  excepting  your  revered  and  beloved  father." 

Lucy  looked  deeply  gratified ;  and  I  saw  another  of  those 
inexplicable  smiles  lurking  around  her  lovely  mouth,  Avhich 
almost  tempted  me  to  demand  an  explanation  of  its  meaning. 
Ere  there  was  time  for  this,  however,  her  countenance  became 
very,  very  sad,  and  she  turned  her  tearful  eyes  toward  me. 

"  Miles,  I  fear  I  understood  your  allusion,  when  you  spoke  of 
Rupert's  money,"  she  said.  "  I  feared  poor,  sainted  Grace 
would  do  this ;  and  I  knew  you  would  strip  yourself  of  every 
dollar  to  comply  with  her  wishes.  I  wonder  the  idea  never 
occurred  to  me  before';  but  it  is  so  hard  to  think  ill  of  a  brother ! 
I  ask  no  questions,  for  I  see  you  are  determined  not  to  answer 
them — perhaps  have  given  a  pledge  to  your  sister  to  that  effect : 
but  we  cannot  live  under  this  disgrace  ;  and  the  day  I  am  twen 
ty-one,  this  grievous,  grievous  wrong  must  be  repaired.  I  know 
that  Grace's  fortune  had  accumulated  to  more  than  twenty  thou 
sand  dollars ;  and  that  is  a  sum  sufficient  to  pay  all  you  owe, 
and  to  leave  you  enough  to  begin  the  world  anew." 

"  Even  were  what  you  fancy  true,  do  you  think  I  Avould  con 
sent  to  rob  you,  to  pay  Rupert's  debts  ?" 

"  Talk  not  of  robbery.  I  could  not  exist  under  the  degrada 
tion  of  thinking  any  of  us  had  your  money,  while  debt  and  im 
prisonment  thus  hung  over  you.  There  is  but  one  thing  that 
can  possibly  prevent  my  paying  you  back  Grace's  fortune,  the 
day  I  am  of  ago,  as  you  will  see,  Miles." 


412  MILES      WALLINGFOBD. 

Again  that  inexplicable  smile  passed  over  Lucy's  face,  and  I 
was  resolved  to  ask  its  meaning,  when  the  approaching  footstep 
of  Mr.  Hardinge  prevented  it. 

"  Mr.  Harrison  is  not  in,"  cried  the  divine,  as  he  entered  the 
room  ;  "  but  I  left  a  note  for  him,  telling  him  that  his  old  ac- 
.quaintance,  Captain  Wallingford,  had  pressing  need  of  his  set 
vices.  He  has  gone  to  Greenwich,  to  his  country  place,  but 
will  be  back  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  I  have  desired  he 
will  come  to  Wall  street,  the  instant  he  can.  I  would  not  blazon 
your  misfortunes,  Miles  ;  but  the  moment  he  arrives,  you  shall 
hear  from  him.  He  is  an  old  school-fellow  of  mine,  and  will  be 
prompt  to  oblige  me.  Now,  Miss  Lucy,  I  am  about  to  release 
you  from  prison.  I  saw  a  certain  Mr.  Drewett  walking  in  the 
direction  of  Wall  street,  and  had  the  charity  to  tell  him  you 
would  be  at  home  in  ten  minutes." 

Lucy  arose  with  an  alacrity  I  could  hardly  forgive.  The 
color  deepened  on  her  face,  and  I  thought  she  even  hurried  her 
father  away,  in  a  manner  that  was  scarcely  sufficiently  reserved. 
Ere  they  left  the  room,  however,  the  dear  girl  took  an  oppor 
tunity  to  say,  in  a  low  voice,  "  Kenftmber,  Miles,  I  hold  you 
strictly  to  your  promise :  in  one  hour,  you  shall  be  free." 


MILKS     WALLINGFORD.  413 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

"  She  half  enclosed  me  in  her  arms, 

She  pressed  me  with  a  meek  embrace ; 
And  bending  back  her  head,  looked  up 
And  gazed  upon  my  face." 

COLERIDGE. 

I  SAW  no  one  for  the  next  two  hours.  A  window  of  the  par 
lor,  where  I  was  permitted  to  remain,  overlooked  the  soi-disant 
park — or  rather  Manhattan-dl&ant — and  it  was  not  long  before 
I  caught  a  glimpse  of  my  mate  and  Neb,  lying  off  and  on,  or 
blockading  the  jail,  lest  I  should  be  secretly  carried  to  parts 
unknown,  or  some  other  great  evil  should  approach  me  from 
without.  What  these  two  honest  and  affectionate  fellows  meant 
by  thus  maintaining  their  post,  I  did  not  know,  it  is  true ;  but 
such  was  my  conjecture.  At  length  Neb  disappeared,  and  was 
absent  an  hour.  When  he  returned,  he  had  a  coil  of  rope  over 
his  shoulder,  when  the  two  took  a  station  at  a  safe  distance 
from  my  prison,  and  began  to  measure  off  fathoms,  to  cut,  knot 
and  splice.  I  Avas  amused  with  their  diligence,  which  made  no 
abatement  until  it  was  interrupted  by  myself.  Of  the  manner  in 
which  that  was  effected  I  shah1  have  occasion  to  speak  presently. 

About  two  hours  after  I  was  left  by  Lucy  and  her  father,  a 
keeper  came  to  announce  another  visitor.  I  was  expecting  my 
own  attorney  or  Mr.  Ilarrison ;  but  the  reader  will  judge  of  my 
surprise  when  Andrew  Drewett  entered  the  room.  He  was 
accompanied  by  the  jailer,  Avho  held  a  letter  in  his  hand,  and 
who  astounded  me  by  saying — 

"  Captain  Wallingford,  I  have  instructions  here  to  open  tho 
door  for  you — bail  has  been  entered." 

The  jailer  disappeared. 


41-1  MILES      WALLINGFOUD. 

"  And  this  I  owe  to  you,  Mr.  Drewctt !" 

"  I  wish  I  could  say  as  much,  with  all  my  heart,  my  dear  sir," 
Andrew  replied,  taking  my  hand,  and  giving  it  a  warm,  cordial 
shake ;  "  but  it  would  not  be  strictly  true.  After  saving  my 
life,  I  should  not  have  suffered  you  to  lie  in  jail  for  want  of  so 
small  a  favor  as  giving  bail  for  your  appearance  in  court,  cer 
tainly  ;  but  would,  and  will,  gladly  be  your  special  bail,  at  the 
proper  time.  Let  the  credit  fall,  however,  only  where  it  is  due. 
Miss  Hardinge  asked  me  to  obtain  your  release,  and  her  wishes 
are  second  only  to  my  own  gratitude." 

This  Avas  said  in  a  frank,  manly  manner ;  and  I  wondered  1 
had  never  viewed  Andrew  Drewett  in  a  light  so  favorable  before. 
lie  had  improved  in  person,  bore  himself  like  a  gentleman  I  now 
thought,  and  was  every  way  a  pleasing,  well-mannered,  well- 
dressed,  and  intelligent-looking  young  man.  I  could  do  ah1 
justice  to  him  but  pardon  him  Lucy's  preference. 

"  Lucy  can  never  forget  our  childish  intimacy,"  I  said,  a  little 
confused.  "  She  left  me,  declaring  an  intention  to  do  something 
of  the  sort ;  though  I  confess  I  was  not  exactly  prepared  for  this. 
You  are  a  man  to  be  envied,  Mr.  Drewett,  if  any  man  on  earth  is !" 

Andrew  looked  embarrassed.  He  glanced  at  me,  colored, 
turned  his  look  out  at  the  window,  then,  by  a  vast  effort,  seem 
ed  to  regain  his  self-command. 

"  I  believe  I  understand  you,  Wallingford,"  he  said.  "  You 
mean,  in  being  engaged  to  Lucy  Hardinge  ?" 

u  I  can  mean  nothing  else — all  I  hear — all  I  have  seen — this 
last  act,  in  particular,  tells  me  as  much." 

"  All  have  then  told  you  wrong.  I  am  not  so  fortunate  as 
to  possess  the  affections  of  Miss  Hardinge ;  and  no  man  will 
gain  her  hand  who  does  not  first  obtain  her  heart ;  ay,  and  her 
whole  heart,  too." 

I  was  astounded !  "What !  Lucy  not  engaged  to  Drewett ; 
not  loving  him,  by  his  own  admission ;  not  likely  to  love  him ! 
I  believe  Andrew  had  no  difficulty  in  comprehending  my  feel 
ings  in  part,  for  he  seemed  disposed  to  continue  the  subject ; 
and  what  was  infinitely  to  his  credit,  to  continue  it  in  a  way 


MILES      Vf  A  LL  IN  GFO  RD.  415 

that  should  leave  no  unpleasant  uncertainty  hanging  about  the 
real  position  of  the  dear  girl. 

"  It  is  only  quite  lately,"  he  said, "  that  I  have  seen  the  great 
injustice  that  I  and  my  family  have  unconsciously  committed 
toward  Miss  Ilardinge.  As  you  are  an  old — a  very  old  friend 
of  hers,  I  will  be  explicit  with  you,  and  endeavor,  in  some  small 
degree,  to  excuse  myself;  though  I  feel  that  it  can  never  be 
done  fully.  You  tell  me,  that  you  have  heard  I  was  engaged 
to  Miss  Ilardinge  ?" 

"  Unquestionably ;  I  think  it  was  the  opinion  of  her  own 
father ;  though  he  must  have  believed  the  promise  conditional, 
as  Lucy  never  would  marry  without  his  approbation." 

"  Mr.  Hardinge  has  then  been  strangely  misled.  It  is  true, 
Mr.  Wallingford,  that  I  have  long  admired  Miss  Ilardinge,  and 
that  I  offered  myself  years  ago.  I  was  refused  from  the  first.  But 
Lucy  had  the  frankness  to  own  that  she  was  free  to  dispose  of 
her  hand  ;  and  I  persevered  contrary  to  her  advice,  her  wishes, 
and  I  may  say,  her  entreaties.  I  think  she  esteems  me  ;  and  I 
know  she  has  a  strong  regard  for  my  mother,  who  is  almost  as 
fond  of  her  as  I  am  myself.  This  esteem  and  regard  I  hoped 
might  ripen  into  love,  and  my  presumption  has  brought  its  own 
punishment.  It  is  now  about  six  months — I  remember  it  was 
shortly  after  we  heard  of  your  probable  loss — that  I  had  a  final 
conversation  with  her  on  the  subject,  when  I  became  convinced 
my  prospects  were  hopeless.  Since  that  time,  I  have  endeav 
ored  to  conquer  my  passion ;  for  love  unrequited,  I  suppose  you 
know,  will  not  last  forever;  and  I  have  so  far  succeeded,  as  to 
tell  you  all  this  without  feeling  the  pain  it  would  once  have  cost 
me.  Still,  I  retain  the  deepest  respect  for  Miss  Ilardinge,  and 
a  single  encouraging  look  would  even  now  recall  me.  I  am  of 
opinion,  however,  she  intends  never  to  marry.  But,  let  us  qviit 
this  place,  which  has  no  longer  any  claim  on  you." 

I  Avas  in  a  state  scarcely  to  know  what  I  did.  It  was  com 
paratively  little  to  me  to  learn  I  was  free  myself,  after  so  unex 
pectedly  learning  that  Lucy  was  also  free.  Lucy — whom  I  had 
for  years  supposed  to  be  irrevocably  engaged,  and  whom  I  had 


416  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

continued  to  love,  even  against  hope.  Andrew  Drcwctt,  I  fan 
cied,  had  never  loved  as  I  did,  or  he  would  not  have  made  the 
speech  he  did ;  or  his  love  for  Lucy  had  not  been  a  part  of  his 
existence  from  boyhood,  as  mine  had  certainly  been.  While  all 
these  thoughts  were  passing  through  my  mind,  I  gave  a  few 
directions,  took  Drewett's  arm,  and  hurried  out  of  the  jail. 

I  confess  that  I  respired  more  freely  when  I  found  myself  in 
the  open  air.  My  companion  took  my  direction,  and  I  led  him 
to  the  spot  where  Marble  and  Neb  were  still  at  work  on  their 
rope.  Great  was  their  surprise  on  seeing  me  at  large ;  and  I 
thought  the  mate  looked  a  little  disappointed,  though  he  com 
prehended  the  matter  at  once  as  soon  as  he  saw  Drewett. 

"  If  you  had  only  waited  till  night,  Miles,"  Marble  said,  shak 
ing  his  head  as  one  menaces,  "  Neb  and  I  would  have  shown 
that  bloody  jail  a  seaman's  fashion  of  quitting  it.  I'm  almost 
sorry  the  occasion  is  lost,  for  it  would  have  done  their  stomachs 
good  to  wake  up  at  two  bells,  and  find  their  cage  empty.  I've 
half  a  mind  to  ask  you  to  go  back,  boy !" 

"  But  I've  no  mind  to  comply  with  the  request ;  so  do  me 
the  favor  to  have  my  bag  carried  back  to  our  lodgings,  where  I 
intend  to  swing  my  hammock  again  to-night.  Mr.  Drewett,  I 
must  hasten  to  thank  her  to  whom  I  owe  my  freedom.  Will 
you  accompany  me  ?" 

Andrew  excused  himself;  and  receiving  my  thanks,  once  more 
we  parted  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hands.  I  then  hastened 
toward  Wall  street,  and  knocked  at  Lucy's  door,  (there  were 
knockers  to  good  houses  in  New  York  in  1804,  a  vile  nuisance, 
having  been  since  well  gotten  rid  of,)  scarce  conscious  of  the 
manner  in  which  I  had  got  there.  It  was  near  the  dinner-hour, 
and  the  footman  was  demurring  about  admitting  a  sailor-man, 
who  hardly  knew  what  he  said,  when  a  little  scream  from  Chloe, 
who  happened  to  see  me,  soon  disposed  of  my  claim  for  an 
entrance. 

"Masser  Mile! — Master  Mile! — I  so  grad — dat  feller,  Neb, 
say  you  come  home.  Oh!  Masser  Mile,  now  I  know  dat  de 
rascjl  at  Clawbonny  get  druv'  off!" 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  417 

This  speech,  confident  as  it  was,  a  little  cooled  my  ardor  by 
rc'ininding  me  I  was  a  beggar,  in  the  figurative  meaning  of  the 
word.  Chloe  led  the  way,  however,  and  I  was  soon  in  the 
drawing-room,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  youthful  mistress  of 
the  house.  How  gloriously  beautiful  did  Lucy  then  appear ! 
She  had  dressed  for  dinner,  as  usual,  but  it  was  in  the  simplest 
and  neatest  manner.  Her  face  was  radiant  with  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  me  where  I  was,  and  excitement  had  deepened  the  color 
on  her  cheeks,  which  were  never  pale,  except  with  emotions. 
As  for  her  eyes,  I  can  only  describe  them  by  the  homely  phrase 
that  they  "  danced  for  joy." 

"  Now,  Miles,"  she  said,  holding  out  both  hands  to  meet  me, 
"  this  is  redeeming  your  pledge,  and  behaving  as  you  should. 
Andrew  Drewctt  was  delighted  with  an  opportunity  of  doing 
something  for  the  man  who  saved  his  life,  and  my  only  fear  was 
of  your  obstinacy." 

"  After  all  I  have  heard  from  Andrew  Drewett,  beloved  Lucy, 
you  never  need  fear  any  thing  from  my  obstinacy  hereafter.  He 
not  only  has  released  my  body  from  prison,  but  he  has  released 
my  spirits  from  the  weight  of  a  mountain,  by  honestly  confess 
ing  you  do  not  love  him." 

The  play  of  roseate  light  on  an  autumnal  sky  at  evening,  is 
not  more  beautiful,  than  the  changing  tints  that  passed  over 
Lucy's  beautiful  face.  She  did  not  speak,  at  first ;  but  so  in 
tent,  so  inquiring  was  her  look,  while  at  the  same  time  it  was  so 
timid  and  modest,  that  I  scarce  needed  the  question  that  she 
finally  succeeded  in  asking. 

"What  is  it  you  wish  to  say,  Miles?"  at  length  came  from  her 
in  faltering  tones. 

"  To  ask  to  be  permitted  to  keep  these  hands  forever.  Not 
one,  Lucy ;  one  will  not  satisfy  a  love  like  mine,  a  love  that  has 
got  to  be  interwoven  with  my  being,  from  having  formed  a  part 
of  my  very  existence  from  boyhood ;  yes,  I  ask  for  both" 

"  You  have  them  both,  dear,  dear  Miles,  and  can  keep  them  as 
long  as  you  please." 

Even  while  this  was  in  the  course  of  utterance,  the  hands  were 


418  MILES     WALUNGFORD. 

snatched  from  me  to  be  applied  to  their  owner's  lace,  and  the 
dear  girl  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  I  folded  her  in  my  arms, 
seated  myself  at  her  side  on  a  sofa,  and  am  not  ashamed  to  say 
that  we  wept  together.  I  shall  not  reveal  all  that  passed  during 
the  next  quarter  of  an  hour,  nor  am  I  quite  certain  that  I  could, 
were  I  to  make  the  attempt,  but  I  well  recollect  my  arm  was 
around  Lucy's  slender  waist,  at  the  end  of  that  brief  period. 
What  was  said  was  not  very  coherent,  nor  do  I  know  that  any 
body  would  care  to  hear,  or  read  it. 

"Why  have  you  so  long  delayed  to  tell  me  this,  Miles?" 
Lucy  at  length  inquired,  a  little  reproachfully.  "You  who  have 
had  so  many  opportunities,  and  might  have  known  how  it  would 
have  been  received !  How  much  misery  and  suffering  it  would 
have  saved  us  both !" 

"  For  that  which  it  has  caused  you,  dearest,  I  shall  never  for 
give  myself;  but  as  for  that  /  have  endured,  it  is  only  too  well 
merited.  But  I  thought  you  loved  Drcwctt;  everybody  said 
.you  were  to  marry  him;  even  your  own  father  believed  and  told 
me  as  much" — 

"  Poor,  dear  papa !  lie  little  knew  my  heart.  One  thing, 
however,  he  did  that  would  have  prevented  my  ever  marrying 
any  one,  Miles,  so  long  as  you  lived." 

"  Ilcaven  forever  bless  him  for  that,  as  well  as  for  all  his  other 
good  deeds  ?  What  was  it,  Lucy  ?" 

"When  we  heard  of  the  supposed  loss  of  your  ship,  he  believed 
it,  but  I  did  not.  Why  I  did  not  believe  what  all  around  me 
thought  was  true,  is  more  than  I  can  explain,  unless  Providence 
humanely  sustained  me  by  hope.  But  when  my  father  thought 
you  dead,  in  conversing  of  all  your  good  qualities,  Miles — and 
he  loved  you  almost  as  well  as  his  daughter" — 

"  God  bless  him,  dear  old  gentleman !  but  what  did  he  tell 
you,  Lucy?" 

"  You  will  never  learn,  if  you  thus  interrupt  me,  Miles,"  Lucy 
answered,  smiling  saucily  in  my  face,  though  she  permitted  me 
still  to  hold  both  her  hands,  as  if  I  had  taken  possession  of 
them  literally  with  an  intent  to  keep  them,  blushing  at  the  same 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  419 

time  as  much  -with  happiness,  I  thought,  as  with  the  innate 
modesty  of  her  nature.  "  Have  a  little  patience,  and  I  will  tell 
you.  When  my  father  thought  you  dead,  he  told  me  the  man 
ner  in  Avhich  you  had  confessed  to  him  the  preference  you  felt 
for  me ;  and  do  you,  can  you  think,  after  I  was  thus  put  in  pos 
session  of  such  a  secret,  I  could  listen  to  Andrew  Drewctt,  or  to 
any  one  else  ?" 

I  shall  not  reveal  what  followed  this  speech ;  but  I  may  say 
that,  in  the  course  of  the  next  ten  minutes,  Lucy  mildly  re 
proached  me  again  for  having  so  long  delayed  my  declaration. 

"  I  know  you  so  well,  Miles,"  she  continued,  smiling — as  for 
blushing,  that  she  did  nearly  the  whole  of  the  remainder  of  the 
day — "I  know  you  so  well,  Miles,  that  I  am  afraid  I  should  have 
made  the  declaration  myself,  had  you  not  found  your  tongue. 
Silly  fellow !  how  could  you  suppose  I  would  ever  love  any  but 
you  ? — see  here !" 

She  drew  the  locket  I  had  given  her  from  her  dress,  and 
placed  it  in  my  hands,  still  warm  from  lying  near  her  heart !  I 
had  no  choice  but  to  kiss  Lucy  again,  or  to  kiss  this  locket,  and 
I  did  both,  by  way  of  leaving  no  further  grounds  for  self-reproach. 
I  say,  kiss  her  again,  for  to  own  the  truth,  I  had  already  done 
so  many  times  in  that  interview. 

At  length,  Chloc  put  her  head  in  at  the  door,  having  taken  the 
precaution  first  to  give  a  gentle  tap,  to  inquire  if  dinner  should 
be  served.  Lucy  dined  at  four,  and  it  was  now  drawing  toward 
five. 

"  Has  my  father  come  in  ?"  demanded  the  young  mistress  of 
her  attendant. 

"  Not  yet,  Miss  Lucy,  but  he  nebber  t'ink  much  of  dinner, 
Miss  Lucy,  ma'am ;  and  Masser  Mile  been  s(  long  a  sailor,  dat 
I  t'ink  he  must  be  hungry.  I  hear  dat  he  had  berry  hard 
time  dis  v'y'ge,  Miss  Lucy — too  hard  for  old  masser  and  missus' 
son !" 

"  Ay,  you  have  seen  Neb,  if  the  truth  wrere  told,  Miss  Chloe," 
I  cried,  "  and  he  has  been  charming  your  car  with  Othello  tales 
of  his  risks  and  hardships,  to  make  you  love  him." 


420  MILES      WALLINUFORD. 

I  cannot  suy  that  Chloc  actually  blushed,  or,  if  she  did,  the 
spectators  were  none  the  wiser  for  the  weakness.  But  dark  as 
was  the  skin  of  this  honest-hearted  girl,  she  had  most  affection 
ate  feelings,  and  even  her  features  could  betray  the  emotions  she 
entertained. 

"  De  feller !"  she  exclaimed.  "  What  Miss  Lucy  please  order  ? 
Shall  'c  cook  dish  up  ?" 

"  We  will  have  dinner,"  Lucy  answered,  with  a  smile,  Chloe's 
eyes  dancing  with  a  sort  of  wild  delight.  "  Tell  John  to  serve 
it.  Mr.  Hardinge  will  be  home  soon,  in  all  probability.  We 
shall  be  only  us  three  at  table." 

The  mentioning  of  the  table  caused  me  to  cast  an  eye  at  my 
dress,  and  the  sight  of  my  mate's  attire,  neat,  and  in  truth,  be 
coming  as  it  was,  to  one  who  had  no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of 
his  figure,  caused  me  to  recollect  my  poverty,  and  to  feel  one 
twinge  at  the  distance  that  the  world  might  fancy  its  own 
opinions  placed  between  us.  As  for  birth,  my  own  family 
was  too  respectable,  and  my  education  had  been  too  good  to 
leave  me  now  any  very  keen  regrets  on  such  a  subject  in  a  state 
of  society  like  ours,  but  there  was  truly  a  wide  chasm  between 
the  heiress  of  Mrs.  Bradfort  and  a  penniless  mate  of  a  ship. 
Lucy  understood  me,  and  slipping  her  arm  through  mine,  she 
walked  into  the  library,  saying  archly,  as  she  drew  me  gently 
along — 

"  It  is  a  very  easy  thing,  Miles,  to  get  skirts  made  to  your 
round-about." 

"  No  doubt,  Lucy ;  but  with  whose  money  ?  I  have  been  in 
such  a  tumult  of  happiness,  as  to  have  forgotten  that  I  am  a 
beggar ;  that  I  am  not  a  suitable  match  for  you !  Had  I  only 
Clawbonny  I  should  feel  less  humiliated.  With  Clawbonny  I 
could  feel  myself  entitled  to  some  portion  of  the  world's  consid 
eration." 

We  were  in  the  library  by  this  time.  Lucy  looked  at  me  a 
moment,  intently,  and  I  could  see  she  was  pained  at  my  allusion. 
Taking  a  little  key  from  a  cabinet  where  she  kept  it,  she  opened 
a  small  drawer,  and  showed  me  the  identical  gold  pieces  that 


MILKS      WALLINQFOKD.  421 

had  once  been  in  my  possession,  and  which  I  had  returned  to 
her  after  my  first  voyage  to  sea.  I  perceived  that  the  pearls  she 
had  obtained  under  Grace's  bequest,  as  well  as  those  which  were 
my  own  property,  if  I  could  be  said  to  own  any  thing,  wero 
kept  in  the  same  place.  Holding  the  gold  in  the  palm  of  a  little 
hand  that  was  as  soft  as  velvet,  and  as  white  as  ivory,  she  said — 

"  You  once  took  all  I  had,  Miles,  and  this  without  pretending 
lo  more  than  a  brother's  love,  why  should  you  hesitate  to  do  it 
again,  now  you  say  you  wish  to  become  my  husband  ?" 

"  Precious  creature  !  I  believe  you  will  cure  me  of  even  my 
siliy  pride."  Then  taking  up  the  pearls,  I  threw  them  on  her 
neck,  where  they  hung  in  a  long  chain,  rivalling  the  skin  Avith 
which  they  came  in  contact.  "  There,  I  have  said  these  pearls 
should  be  an  offering  to  my  wife,  and  I  now  make  it ;  though  I 
scarce  know  how  they  are  to  be  kept  from  the  grasp  of  Daggett." 

Lucy  kissed  the  pearls — I  knew  she  did  not  do  it  on  account 
of  any  love  for  them — and  tears  came  into  her  eyes.  I  believe 
she  had  long  waited  to  receive  this  gift,  in  the  precise  character 
in  which  it  was  now  received. 

"  Thank  you,  dear  Miles,"  she  said.  "  You  see  how  freely  I 
accept  your  gifts,  and  why  should  you  hesitate  to  receive  mine  ? 
As  for  this  Mr.  Daggett,  it  will  be  easy  enough  to  get  rid  of  his 
claim.  I  shall  be  of  ago  before  he  can  bring  his  cause  to  trial,  as 
I  learn,  then  nothing  will  be  easier  than  for  Miles  Wallingford 
to  pay  all  his  debts,  for  by  that  time  all  that  is  now  mine  will  be 
yours.  No,  no,  this  Mr.  Daggett  shall  not  easily  rob  me  of  this 
precious  gift." 

"  Rupert" — I  said,  by  way  of  getting  her  answer. 

"  Rupert  Avill  not  influence  my  conduct,  any  further  than  I 
shall  insist  on  returning  every  dollar  he  has  received  from  you, 
in  the  name  of  our  sainted  Grace.  But  I  hear  my  father's 
voice,  and  speaking  to  some  other  person.  I  had  hoped  we 
should  dine  alone !" 

The  door  of  the  library  opened,  and  Mr.  Hardinge  entered, 
followed  by  a  grave-looking,  elderly  man,  of  respectable  mien, 
and  a  manner  that  denoted  one  accustomed  to  deal  with  mat- 


422  MILES     WALLINGFOUD. 

tors  of  weight.  I  knew  this  person  at  once  to  be  llichard  Har 
rison,  then  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of  America, 
and  the  gentleman  to  whom  I  had  been  carried  by  John  Wal- 
lingford,  when  the  latter  pressed  me  to  make  my  will.  Mr. 
Harrison  shook  me  cordially  by  the  hand,  after  saluting  Lucy, 
whom  he  knew  intimately.  I  saw  at  once  that  something  un 
usual  was  working  in  his  mind.  This  highly  respectable  advo 
cate  was  a  man  of  method  and  of  great  coolness  of  manner  in 
the  management  of  affairs,  and  he  proceeded  to  business  at  once, 
using  very  little  circumlocution. 

"  I  have  been  surprised  to  hear  that  my  worthy  client  and 
friend,  Mr.  John  Wallingford,  is  dead,"  he  observed.  "  I  do 
not  know  how  his  decease  should  have  escaped  my  notice  in  the 
papers,  unless  it  were  owing  to  a  pretty  severe  illness  I  suffered 
myself  about  the  time  it  occurred.  My  good  friend,  Mr.  Har- 
dinge,  told  it  to  me,  for  the  first  time,  only  half  an  hour  since." 

"  It  is  true,  sir,"  I  answered.  "  I  understand  my  kinsman 
died  eight  months  since." 

"  And  he  held  your  bond  for  forty  thousand  dollars  at  the 
time  he  died  ?" 

"  I  regret  to  say  he  did ;  a  bond  secured  by  a  mortgage  on 
my  paternal  place,  Clawbonny,  which  has  since  been  sold,  by 
virtue  of  the  power  contained  in  the  clauses,  under  the  statute, 
and  sold  for  a  song ;  less  than  a  fourth  of  its  value." 

"  And  you  have  been  arrested,  at  the  suit  of  the  administra 
tor,  for  the  balance  due  on  the  bond  ?" 

"  I  have,  sir ;  and  am  liberated  on  general  bail,  only  within 
an  hour  or  two." 

"  Well,  sir,  all  these  proceedings  can  be,  and  must  be  set 
aside.  I  have  already  given  instructions  to  prepare  an  applica 
tion  to  the  chancellor  for  an  injunction,  and,  unless  your  kins 
man's  administrator  is  a  great  dunce,  you  will  be  in  peaceable 
possession  of  Clawbonny,  again,  in  less  than  a  month — if  a. 
moderately  sensible  man,  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours." 

"  You  would  not  raise  hopes  that  are  idle,  Mr.  Harrison ;  yet 
I  do  not  understand  how  all  this  well  can  be  !" 


1.1  1  L  K  S      W  A  L  L  I  N  O  F  O  II  D .  423 

"  Vouf  kinsman,  Mr.  John  Wallingforcl,  wlio  was  a  mucli 
esteemed  client  of  mine,  made  a  will,  wliicli  will  I  drew  myself, 
and  which  will,  being  left  in  my  possession  for  that  purpose,  I 
now  put  in  your  hands  as  his  sole  executor.  By  that  will,  you 
will  perceive  that  he  especially  forgives  you  the  debt  of  forty 
thousand  dollars,  and  releases  the  claim  under  the  mortgage. 
But  this  is  not  all.  After  giving  some  small  legacies  to  a  few 
of  his  female  relatives,  he  has  left  you  the  residuary  legatee,  and 
I  know  enough  of  his  affairs  to  be  certain  that  you  will  receive 
an  addition  to  your  estate  of  more  than  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  John  Wallingford  was  a  character,  but  he  was  a  money- 
making  character ;  had  he  lived  twenty  years  longer,  he  would 
have  been  one  of  the  richest  men  in  the  state.  He  had  laid 
an  excellent  foundation,  but  he  died  too  soon  to  rear  the  golden 
structure." 

What  a  change  of  circumstances  was  here  !  I  was  not  only 
virtually  released  from  debt,  but  had  Clawbouny  restored  to 
me,  and  was  master  of  all  I  had  ever  owned,  my  earnings  and 
the  money  invested  in  the  Dawn  excepted.  This  last  was  irre 
trievably  gone,  it  was  true,  but  in  its  place  I  had  the  ample 
legacy  of  John  Wallingforcl  as  a  compensation.  This  legacy 
consisted  of  a  large  sum  in  the  three  per  cents.,  which  then  sold 
at  about  sixty,  but  were  subsequently  paid  off  at  par,  of  good 
bank  and  insurance  stocks,  bonds  and  mortgages,  and  a  valuable 
and  productive  real  property  in  the  western  part  of  the  state, 
with  several  buildings  in  town.  In  a  word,  I  was  even  richer 
than  Lucy,  and  no  longer  need  consider  myself  as  one  living  on 
her  generosity.  It  is  not  difficult  to  believe  I  was  made  su 
premely  happy  by  this  news,  and  I  looked  to  Lucy  for  sympa 
thy.  As  for  the  dear  girl  herself,  I  do  believe  she  felt  any  thing 
but  pleasure,  at  this  new  accession  of  riches  ;  for  she  had  a  deep 
satisfaction  in  thinking  that  it  was  in  her  power  to  prove  to  me 
how  completely  I  possessed  her  confidence,  by  placing  all  she 
had  in  my  hands.  Nevertheless,  she  loved  Clawbonny  as  well 
as  I  did  myself,  and  my  restoration  to  the  throne  of  my  fathers 
was  a  subject  of  mutual  delight. 


424  MILES      WALL1NGFORD. 

Mr.  Harrison  went  on  to  say  that  he  had  ascertained  Daggctt 
was  in  town  to  conduct  the  expected  arrangement  with  me,  on 
the  subject  of  my  personals,  and  that  he  had  already  sent  a  mes 
senger  to  his  attorney,  to  let  the  existence  of  the  will  be  knoAvn. 
lie  had,  consequently,  strong  hopes  of  arranging  matters  in  the 
course  of  the  next  twenty-four  hours.  We  were  still  at  table,  in 
effect,  when  the  messenger  came  to  let  us  know  an  interview 
was  appointed  at  the  office  of  this  eminent  counsel,  and  we  all 
adjourned  to  that  place,  Lucy  exccptcd,  as  soon  as  the  cloth 
was  removed,  for  in  that  day  cloths  were  always  removed.  At 
the  office,  we  found  Mr.  Daggett,  whom  I  now  saw  for  the 
first  time,  and  his  legal  adviser,  already  waiting  for  us.  One 
glance  sufficed  to  let  us  into  the  secret  of  the  consternation  both 
were  in,  for  the  lawyer  had  committed  himself  in  the  course  of 
the  proceedings  he  had  had  an  agency  in  conducting,  almost  as 
much  as  his  client. 

"  This  is  strange  news  to  us,  Mr.  Harrison,"  the  attorney 
commenced ;  "  though  your  character  and  reputation,  I  will  con 
fess,  make  it  look  serious.  Is  there  no  mistake  in  the  matter, 
sir  ?" 

"None  whatever,  Mr.  Meekly.  If  you  will  have  the  goodnes? 
to  read  this  will,  sir,  you  will  perceive  that  the  facts  have  been 
truly  laid  before  your  client ;  and,  as  to  the  authenticity  of  the 
document,  I  can  only  say,  it  was  not  only  drawn  up  by  myself, 
under  precise  instructions  from  Mr.  Wallingford,  which  instruc 
tions  I  still  possess,  in  his  own  hand-writing,  but  the  will  was 
copied  by  my  client,  as  well  as  signed  and  sealed  in  my  pres 
ence,  as  one  of  the  witnesses.  So  far  as  relates  to  the  person 
als,  this  will  would  be  valid,  though  not  signed  by  the  testator, 
supposing  no  other  will  to  exist.  But,  I  flatter  myself,  you  will 
find  every  thing  correct  as  to  forms." 

Mr.  Meekly  read  the  will  aloud,  from  beginning  to  end,  and, 
in  returning  it  to  me,  he  cast  a  very  give-it-up-sort  of  look  at 
Daggett.  The  latter  inquired,  with  some  anxiety, 

"Is  there  any  schedule  of  the  property  accompanying  tbe 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  425 

"  There  is,  sir,"  returned  Mr.  Harrison  ;  "  and  directions  on  it 
where  to  find  the  certificates  of  stock,  and  all  the  other  evi 
dences  of  debts — -such  as  bonds  and  mortgages.  Of  the  last, 
several  are  in  my  own  possession.  I  presume  the  bond  of  this 
Mr.  Wallingford  was  kept  by  the  testator  himself,  as  a  sort  of  a 
family  thing." 

"  Well,  sir,  you  will  find  that  none  of  the  stock  has  been 
touched ;  and  I  confess  this  bond,  with  a  few  notes  given  in  Gen- 
essee,  is  all  that  I  have  been  able  to  find.  We  have  been  sur 
prised  at  discovering  the  assets  to  be  so  small." 

"  So  much  the  better  for  you,  Mr.  Daggett.  Knowing  what 
I  do,  I  shall  only  give  up  the  assets  I  hold  to  the  executor  and 
heir.  Your  letters  of  administration  will  be  set  aside,  as  a  mat 
ter  of  course,  even  should  you  presume  to  oppose,  us  which  I 
should  hardly  think  advisable." 

"  We  shall  not  attempt  it,  Mr.  Harrison,"  Meekly  said,  has 
tily  ;  "  and  we  expect  equal  liberality  from  your  client." 

So  much  for  having  a  first-rate  lawyer  and  a  man  of  character 
on  my  side.  Daggett  gave  the  whole  thing  up,  on  the  spot — 
reconveying  to  me  Clawbonny  before  he  quitted,  though  the 
sale  would  unquestionably  be  set  aside,  and  subsequently  was 
set  aside,  by  means  of  an  amicable  suit.  A  great  deal  remained 
to  be  done,  however ;  and  I  was  obliged  to  tear  myself  away 
from  Lucy,  in  order  to  do  it.  Probate  of  the  will  was  to  be 
made  in  the  distant  county  of  Genessee — and  distant  it  was 
from  New  York  in  1804  !  The  journey  that  could  be  made,  to 
day,  in  about  thirty  hours,  took  me  ten  days ;  and  I  spent  near 
a  month  in  going  through  the  necessary  forms,  and  in  otherwise 
settling  my  affairs  at  the  west,  as  that  part  of  the  state  was  then 
called.  The  time,  however,  was  not  wasted  below.  Mr.  Har- 
dinge  took  charge  of  every  thing  at  Clawbonny,  and  Lucy's  wel 
come  letters — three  of  which  reached  me  weekly — informed  me 
that  every  thing  was  re-established  in  the  house,  on  the  farm, 
and  at  the  mill.  The  Wallingford  was  set  running  again,  and 
all  the  oxen,  cows,  horses,  hogs,  etc.,  etc.,  were  living  in  their 
old  haunts.  The  negroes  were  reinstated,  and  Clawbonny  was 


420  MILES      WALLINGFOUD. 

itself  again  !  The  only  changes  made  were  for  the  better ;  the 
occasion  having  been  improved,  to  paint  and  nc\v-vamp  tho 
house,  which  Mr.  Daggett's  parsimony  had  prevented  him  from 
defacing  by  modern  alterations.  In  a  word,  "  Masser  Mile"  was 
alone  wanting  to  make  all  at  the  farm  happy.  Chloe  had  com 
municated  her  engagement  to  "  Miss  Lucy,"  and  it  was  under 
stood  Neb  and  his  master  were  to  be  married  about  the  same 
lime.  As  for  Moses,  he  had  gone  up  to  Willow  Cove,  on  a 
leave  of  absence.  A  letter  received  from  him,  which  now  lies 
before  me,  will  give  a  better  account  of  his  proceedings  and 
feelings  than  I  can  write  myself.  It  was  in  the  following 
words,  viz. : 

"  Willow  Cove,  September  18th,  1804. 
"  CAPTAIN  WALLINGFORD  : 

"  Dear  sir,  and  my  dear  Miles — Here  I  have  been,  moored 
head  and  starn,  these  ten  days,  as  comfortable  as  heart  could 
wish,  in  the  bosom  of  my  family.  The  old  woman  was  right 
down  glad  to  sec  me,  and  she  cried  like  an  alligator,  when  she 
heard  my  story.  As  for  Kitty,  she  cried,  and  she  laughed  in 
the  bargain ;  but  that  young  Bright,  whom  you  may  remember 
we  fell  in  with,  in  our  cruise  after  old  Van  Tassel,  has  fairly 
hauled  alongside  of  my  niece,  and  she  does  little  but  laugh  from 
morning  to  night.  It's  bloody  hard  to  lose  a  niece  in  this  way, 
just  as  a  man  finds  her,  but  mother  says  I  shall  gain  a  nephew 
by  the  trade. 

"  Now,  for  old  Van  Tassel.  The  Lord  will  never  suffer  rogues 
to  prosper  in  the  long  run.  Mother  found  the  old  rascal's  re 
ceipt,  given  to  my  father  for  the  money,  years  and  years  ago, 
and  sending  for  a  Hudson  lawyer,  they  made  the  miserly  cheat 
oft'  with  his  hatches,  and  hoist  out  cargo  enough  to  square  the 
yards.  So  mother  considers  the  thing  as  settled  at  last ;  but  I 
shall  always  regard  the  account  as  open  until  I  have  threshed 
the  gentleman  to  my  heart's  content.  The  old  woman  got  the 
cash  in  hard  dollars,  not  understanding  paper,  and  I  wasn't  in 
the  house  ten  minutes,  before  the  good  old  soul  roused  a  stock- 


MILES      WALLINGFOIID.  427 

ing  out  of  a  drawer,  and  began  to  count  out  the  pieces  to  pay 
me  off.  So  you  sec,  Miles,  I've  stepped  into  my  estate  again, 
as  well  as  yourself.  As  for  your  offer  to  pay  me  wages  for  the 
whole  of  last  v'y'ge" — this  word  Marble  could  only  spell  as  he 
pronounced  it — "  it's  generous,  and  that's  a  good  deal  in  these 
bloody  dishonest  times,  but  I'll  not  touch  a  copper.  When  a 
ship's  lost,  the  wages  are  lost  with  her,  and  that's  law  and  rea 
son.  It  would  be  hard  on  a  marchant  to  have  to  pay  wages  for 
work  done  on  board  a  craft  that's  at  the  bottom  of  the  ocean  ; 
so  no  more  on  that  p'int,  which  we'll  consider  settled. 

"  I  am  delighted  to  learn  you  are  to  be  married  as  soon  as 
you  get  back  to  Clawbonny.  Was  I  in  your  place,  and  saw 
such  a  nice  young  woman  beckoning  me  into  port,  I'd  not  be 
long  in  the  offing.  Thank  you,  heartily,  for  the  invitation  to  be 
one  of  the  bride's-maids,  which  is  an  office,  my  dear  Miles,  1 
covet,  and  shall  glory  in.  I  wish  you  to  drop  me  a  line  as 
to  the  rigging  proper  for  the  occasion,  for  I  would  wish  to  be 
dressed  as  much  like  the  rest  of  the  bride's-maids  as  possible ; 
uniformity  being  always  desirable  in  such  matters.  A  wedding 
is  a  wedding,  and  should  be  dealt  with  as  a  wedding ;  so,  wait 
ing  for  further  orders,  I  remain  your  friend  and  old  shipmate 
to  command, 

"  MOSES  VAN  DUZEK  MARBLE." 

I  do  not  affirm  that  the  spelling  of  this  letter  was  quite  as 
accurate  as  that  given  in  this  copy,  but  the  epistle  was  legible, 
and  evidently  gave  Marble  a  great  deal  of  trouble.  As  for  the 
letters  of  dear  Lucy,  I  forbear  to  copy  any.  They  were  like  her 
self,  however ;  ingenuous,  truthful,  affectionate,  and  feminine. 
Among  other  things,  she  informed  me  that  our  union  was  to 
take  place  in  St.  Michael's ;  that  I  was  to  meet  her  at  the  rec 
tory,  and  that  we  might  proceed  to  Clawbonny  from  the  church 
door.  She  had  invited  Rupert  and  Emily  to  be  present,  but  the 
health  of  the  last  would  prevent  their  accepting  the  invitation. 
Major,  or  General  Mcrton,  as  he  was  universally  called  in  New 
York,  had  the  gout,  and  could  not  be  there ;  and  I  was  asked 


428 


MILES      WALLINGFORD. 


if  it  would  not  be  advisable,  under  all  the  circumstances,  to  have 
the  affair  as  private  as  possible.  My  answer  conveyed  a  cheer 
ful  compliance,  and  a  week  after  that  was  dispatched,  I  left  the 
Genessee  country,  having  successfully  completed  all  my  business. 
No  one  opposed  me,  and  so  far  from  being  regarded  as  an  in 
truder,  the  world  thought  me  the  proper  heir  of  my  cousin. 


MILES      WALLINaFOUD.  129 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

"I  calmed  her  fears,  and  she  was  calin, 

And  told  her  love  with  virgin  pride ; 
And  so  I  won  my  Gcnevieve, 
My  bright  and  beauteous  bride." 

COLERIDGE. 

By  arrangement,  I  stopped  at  the  Willow  Cove,  to  pick  up 
Marble.  I  found  the  honest  fellow  happy  as  the  day  was  long; 
but  telling  fearfully  long  and  wonderful  yarns  of  his  adventures, 
to  the  Avhole  country  round.  My  old  mate  was  substantially  a 
man  of  truth;  but  he  did  love  to  astonish  "know-nothings." 
He  appears  to  have  succeeded  surprisingly  well,  for  the  Dutch 
men  of  that  neighborhood  still  recount  anecdotes  of  the  achieve- 

.  * 

ments  and  sufferings  of  Captain  Marvel,  as  they  usually  call  him, 

though  they  have  long  ceased  to  think  the  country  belongs  to 
the  United  Provinces. 

Moses  was  glad  to  see  me ;  and  after  passing  a  night  in  the 
cottage  of  his  mother,  AVC  proceeded  toward  Clawbonny,  in  a 
conveyance  that  had  been  sent  to  Willow  Cove  to  meet  me.  It 
was  a  carriage  of  my  own,  one  of  my  own  negroes  acting  as 
driver.  I  knew  the  old  team,  and  will  acknowledge  that  tears 
forced  themselves  to  my  eyes  as  I  thus  saw  myself,  as  it  might 
be,  reinstated  in  my  own.  The  same  feeling  came  powerfully 
over  me,  as  we  drove  to  the  summit  of  an  elevation  in  the  road 
that  commanded  a  view  of  the  vale  and  buildings  of  Clawbonny. 
What  a  moment  was  that  in  my  existence  !  I  cannot  say  that  I 
was  born  to  wealth,  even  as  wealth  was  counted  among  us  sixty 
years  since,  but  I  was  born  to  a  competency.  Until  I  lost  my 
ship,  I  had  never  known  the  humiliating  sensations  of  poverty ; 
ind  the  feeling  that  passed  over  my  heart,  when  I  first  heard  that 


430  MILES      W  A  LL  IN  G  FO  i:  y  , 

Clawbouny  was  sold,  lias  left  an  impression  that  will  last  for  life. 
I  looked  at  the  houses,  as  I  passed  them  in  the  streets,  and 
remembered  that  I  was  houseless.  I  did  not  pass  a  shop  in 
which  clothes  were  exposed,  Avithout  remembering  that,  were 
my  debts  paid,  I  should  literally  be  without  a  coat  to  my  back. 
Now,  I  had  my  own  once  more ;  and  there  stood  the  home  of 
my  ancestors  for  generations,  looking  comfortable  and  respect 
able,  in  the  midst  of  a  most  inviting  scene  of  rural  quiet  and 
loveliness.  The  very  fields  seemed  to  welcome  me  beneath,  its 
roof!  There  is  no  use  in  attempting  to  conceal  what  hap 
pened  ;  and  I  will  honestly  relate  it. 

The  road  made  a  considerable  circuit  to  descend  the  hill, 
while  a  footpath  led  down  the  declivity,  by  a  shorter  cut,  which 
was  always  taken  by  pedestrians.  Making  an  incoherent  excuse 
to  Moses,  and  telling  him  to  wait  for  me  at  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
I  sprang  out  of  the  carriage,  leaped  a  fence,  and  I  may  add, 
leaped  out  of  sight,  in  order  to  conceal  my  emotion.  I  was  no 
sooner  lost  to  view,  than,  seating  myself  on  a  fragment  of  rock, 
I  wept  like  a  child.  How  long  I  sat  there  is  more  than  I  can  say ; 
but  the  manner  in  which  I  was  recalled  from  this  paroxysm  of 
feeling  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  A  little  hand  was  laid  on 
my  forehead,  and  a  soft  voice  uttered  the  word  "  Miles !"  so 
near  me,  that,  at  the  next  instant,  I  held  Lucy  in  my  arms. 
The  dear  girl  had  walked  to  the  hill,  as  she  afterward  admitted, 
in  the  expectation  of  seeing  me  pass  on  to  Clawbonny ;  and 
comprehending  my  feelings  and  my  behavior,  could  not  deny 
herself  the  exquisite  gratification  of  sharing  in  my  emotions. 

"  It  is  a  blessed  restoration  to  your  rights,  dear  Miles,"  Lucy 
at  length  said,  smiling  through  her  tears.  "  Your  letters  have 
told  me  that  you  are  rich ;  but  I  would  rather  you  had  Claw- 
bonny,  and  not  a  cent  besides,  than,  without  this  place,  you  had 
the  riches  of  the  wealthiest  man  in  the  country.  Yours  it  should 
have  been,  at  all  events,  could  my  means  have  compassed  it." 

"  And  this,  Lucy,  without  my  becoming  your  husband,  do 
you  mean  ?" 

Lucy  blushed  brightly ;  though  I  cannot  say  the  sincere,  in- 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  431 

gcnuous  girl  ever  looked  embarrassed  in  avowing  her  preference 
for  me.  After  a  moment's  pause,  she  smiled,  and  answered  my 
question. 

"  I  have  not  doubted  of  the  result,  since  my  father  gave  me 
an  account  of  your  feelings  toward  me,"  she  said,  "and  that,  you 
will  remember,  was  before  Mr.  Daggett  had  his  sale.  Women 
have  more  confidence  in  the  affections  than  men,  I  fear;  at 
least,  with  us  they  are  more  engrossing  concerns  than  with  you, 
for  we  live  for  them  altogether,  whereas  you  have  the  world 
constantly  to  occupy  your  thoughts.  I  have  never  supposed 
Miles  Wallingford  would  become  the  husband  of  any  but  Lucy 
Ilardinge,  except  on  one  occasion,  and  then  only  for  a  very 
short  period ;  and  ever  since  I  have  thought  on  such  subjects  at 
all,  I  have  known  that  Lucy  Hardinge  would  never — could  never 
be  the  wife  of  any  one  but  Miles  Wallingford." 

"  And  that  one  exception,  dearest, — that  '  very  short  period  ?' 
Having  confessed  so  much,  I  am  eager  to  know  all." 

Lucy  became  thoughtful,  and  she  moved  the  grass  at  her  feet 
with  the  end  of  her  parasol,  ere  she  replied, 

"  The  one  exception  was  Emily  Merton ;  and  the  short  period 
terminated  when  I  saw  you  together,  in  your  own  house.  When 
I  first  saw  Emily  Merton,  I  thought  her  more  worthy  of  your 
love  than  I  could  possibly  be ;  and  I  fancied  it  impossible  that 
you  could  have  lived  so  long  in  a  ship  together,  without  discov 
ering  each  other's  merits.  But,  when  I  was  placed  with  you 
both,  under  the  same  roof,  I  soon  ascertained  that,  while  your 
imagination  had  been  a  little  led  aside,  your  heart  was  always 
true  to  me." 

"  Is  this  possible,  Lucy  ?  Are  women  really  so  much  more 
discriminating,  so  much  more  accurate  in  their  opinions,  than 
us  men  ?  While  I  was  ready  to  hang  myself  for  jealousy  of 
Andrew  Drewctt,  did  you  really  know  that  my  heart  was  en 
tirely  yours  ?" 

"  I  was  not  without  misgivings,  Miles,  and  sometimes  those 
that  were  keenly  painful ;  but,  on  the  whole,  I  will  not  say  I 
fc-lt  my  power,  but  that  I  felt  we  were  dear  to  each  other." 


432  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

"  Did  you  never  suppose,  as  your  excellent  father  has  clone, 
that  we  were  too  much  like  brother  and  sister  to  become  lovers, 
too  much  accustomed  to  be  dear  to  each  other  as  children,  to 
submit  to  passion  ?  For  that  which  I  feel  for  you,  Lucy,  I  do 
not  pretend  to  dignify  with  the  name  of  esteem,  and  respect, 
and  affection — it  is  a  passion,  that  will  form  the  misery  or  hap 
piness  of  my  life." 

Lucy  smiled  archly,  and  again  the  end  of  her  parusoi  played 
with  the  grass  that  grew  around  the  rock  on  which  we  were 
seated. 

"  How  could  I  think  this  for  you,"  she  said,  "  when  I  had  a 
contrary  experience  of  my  own  constantly  present,  Miles  ?  I  saw 
that  you  thought  there  was  some  difference  of  condition  between 
us,  (silly  fellow !)  and  I  felt  persuaded  you  had  only  your  own 
diffidence  to  overcome,  to  tell  your  own  story." 

"  And  knowing  and  seeing  all  this,  cruel  Lucy,  why  did  you 
suffer  years  of  cruel,  cruel  doubt  to  hang  over  me  ?" 

"  Was  it  a  woman's  part  to  speak,  Miles  ?  I  endeavored  to 
act  naturally — believe  I  did  act  naturally — and  I  left  the  rest  to 
God.  Blessed  be  his  mercy,  I  am  rewarded !" 

I  folded  Lucy  to  my  heart,  and,  passing  a  moment  of  sweet 
sympathy  in  the  embrace,  we  both  began  to  talk  of  other  things, 
as  if  mutually  conscious  that  our  feelings  were  too  high-wrought 
for  the  place  in  which  we  were.  I  inquired  as  to  the  condition 
of  things  at  Clawbonny,  and  was  gratified  with  the  report. 
Everybody  expected  me.  I  had  no  tenantry  to  come  forth  to 
meet  me — nor -were  American  tenants  much  addicted  to  such 
practices,  even  when  they  were  to  be  found ;  though  the  mis 
erable  sophistry  on  the  subject  of  landlord  and  tenant — one  of 
the  most  useful  and  humanizing  relations  of  civilized  life — did 
not  then  exist  among  us,  that  I  am  sorry  to  find  is  now  getting 
into  vogue.  In  that  day,  it  was  not  thought  "  liberty"  to  vio 
late  the  fair  covenants  of  a  lease ;  and  attempts  to  cheat  a  landed 
proprietor  out  of  his  rights  were  called  cheating,  as  they  ought 
to  be — and  they  were  called  nothing  else. 

In  that  dny,  a  loa°-c  in  perpetuity  was  thought  a  more  ndvar.- 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  433 

tageous  bargain  for  the  tenant,  than  a  lease  for  a  year,  or  a  term 
of  years ;  and  rnen  did  not  begin  to  reason  as  if  one  indulgence 
gave  birth  to  a  right  to  demand  more.  In  that  day,  paying  rent 
in  chickens,  and  wood,  and  work  was  not  fancied  to  be  a  rem 
nant  of  feudality,  but  it  was  regarded  as  a  favor  conferred  on 
him  who  had  the  privilege ;  and  even  now,  nine  countrymen  in 
ten  endeavor  to  pay  their  debts  in  every  thing  they  can,  before 
they  resort  to  the  purse.  In  that  day,  the  audacious  sophism 
of  calling  land  a  monopoly,  in  a  country  that  probably  possesses 
more  than  a  hundred  acres  for  every  living  soiil  within  its  limits, 
was  not  broached ;  and,  in  that  day,  knots  of  men  did  not  set 
themselves  up  as  special  representatives  of  the  whole  community, 
and  interpret  the  laws  in  their  own  favor,  as  if  they  were  the 
first  principles  of  the  entire  republic.  But  my  pen  is  running 
away  with  me,  and  I  must  return  to  Lucy.  A  crisis  is  at  hand ; 
and  we  are  about  to  see  the  laws  triumphant,  or  acts  of  aggres 
sion  that  will  far  outdo  all  that  has  hitherto  rested  on  the 
American  name,  as  connected  with  a  want  of  faith  in  pecuniary 
transactions. 

Should  I  ever  continue  these  adventures,  occasions  may  offer 
to  draw  certain  pictures  of  the  signs  of  the  times ;  signs  that 
have  an  ominous  aspect  as  regards  real  liberty,  by  substituting 
the  most  fearful  of  all  tyrannies,  the  spurious,  in  its  place. 
God  alone  knows  for  what  we  are  reserved ;  but  one  thing  is 
certain — there  must  be  a  serious  movement  backward,  or  the 
nation  is  lost. 

I  had  no  tenantry  to  come  out  and  meet  me  ;  but  there  were 
the  blacks.  It  is  true,  the  law  was  on  the  point  of  liberating 
these  slaves,  leaving  a  few  of  the  younger  to  serve  for  a  term 
of  years,  that  should  requite  their  owners  for  the  care  of  their 
infancies  and  their  educations  ;  but  this  law  could  not  effect  an 
immediate  change  in  the  condition  of  the  Clawbonnys.  The 
old  ones  did  not  wish  to  quit  me,  and  never  did ;  while  it  took 
years  to  loosen  the  tie  which  bound  the  younger  portion  of 
them  to  me  and  mine.  At  this  hour,  near  twenty  of  them  arc 
living  round  me,  in  cottager,  of  mine;  and  the  service  of  my 
10 


4H4  MILES      AV  ALLINGFORD. 

kitchen  is  entirely  conducted  by  them.  Lucy  prepared  me  for 
a  reception  by  these  children  of  Africa,  even  the  outcasts  hav 
ing  united  with  the  rest  to  do  honor  to  their  young  master. 
Honor  is  not  the  word;  there  was  too  much  heart  in  the  affair 
for  so  cold  a  term ;  the  negro,  whatever  may  be  his  faults,  al 
most  always  possessing  an  affectionate  heart. 

At  length,  I  remembered  Marble,  and,  taking  leave  of  Lury, 
who  would  not  let  me  accompany  her  home,  I  threw  myself 
down  the  path,  and  found  my  mate  cogitating  in  the  carriage, 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill. 

"  Well,  Miles,  you  seem  to  value  this  land  of  yours,  as  a  sea 
man  does  his  ship,"  cried  Moses,  before  I  had  time  to  apologize 
for  having  kept  him  so  long  waiting.  "  Howsomever,  I  can 
enter  into  the  feelin',  and  a  blessed  one  it  is,  to  get  a  respon- 
dentia  bond  off  of  land  that  belonged  to  a  fellow's  grandfather. 
Next  thing  to  being  a  bloody  hermit,  I  hold,  is  to  belong  to  no 
body  in  a  crowded  world  ;  and  I  would  not  part  with  one  kiss 
from  little  Kitty,  or  one  wrinkle  of  my  mother's,  for  all  the  des 
ert  islands  in  the  ocean.  Come,  sit  down  now,  my  lad — why,  you 
look  as  red  as  a  rosebud,  and  as  if  you  had  been  running  up  and 
down  hill  the  whole  time  you've  been  absent." 

"  It  is  sharp  work  to  come  down  such  a  hill  as  this  on  a  trot. 
Well,  here  I  am  at  your  side  ;  what  would  you  wish  to  know  ?" 

"  Why,  lad,  I've  been  thinkin',  since  you  were  away,  of  the 
duties  of  a  bride' s-maid" — to  his  dying  day,  Moses  always  in 
sisted  he  had  acted  in  this  capacity  at  my  wedding — "  for  the 
time  draws  near,  and  I  wouldn't  wish  to  discredit  you,  on  such 
a  festivity.  In  the  first  place,  how  am  I  to  be  dressed  ?  I've 
got  the  posy  you  mentioned  in  your  letter,  stowed  away  safe  in 
my  trunk.  Kitty  made  it  for  me  last  week,  and  a  good-looking 
posy  it  was,  the  last  time  I  saw  it." 

"  Did  you  think  of  the  breeches  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay — I  have  them,  too,  and  what  is  more,  I've  had  them 
bent.  Somehow  or  other,  Miles,  running  under  bare  poles  does 
not  seem  to  agree  with  my  build.  If  there's  time,  I  should  like 
to  have  a  couple  of  bonnets  fitted  to  the  articles." 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  435 

"  Those  would  be  gaiters,  Moses,  and  I  never  heard  of  a 
bride's-maid  in  breeches  and  gaiters.  No,  you'll  be  obliged  tc 
come  out  like  everybody  else." 

"  Well,  I  care  less  for  the  dress  than  I  do  for  the  behavior. 
Shall  I  be  obliged  to  kiss  Miss  Lucy  ?" 

"No,  not  exactly  Miss  Lucy,  but  Mrs.  Bride — I  believe  it 
v  ould  not  be  a  lawful  marriage  without  that." 

"  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  lay  a  straw  in  the  way  of  youi 
happiness,  my  dear  boy  ;  but  you'll  make  a  signal  for  the  prop 
er  tune  to  clear  ship,  then — you  know  I  always  carry  a  quid." 

I  promised  not  to  desert  him  in  his  need,  and  Moses  became 
materially  easier  in  his  mind.  I  do  not  wish  the  reader  to  sup 
pose  my  mate  fancied  he  was  to  act  in  the  character  of  a  woman 
at  my  nuptials,  but  simply  that  he  was  to  act  in  the  character 
of  a  bride's-maid.  The  difficulties  which  beset  him  will  be  best 
explained  by  his  last  remark:  on  this  occasion,  and  with  which  I 
shall  close  this  discourse.  "  Had  I  been  brought  up  in  a  decent 
family,"  he  said,  "  instead  of  having  been  set  afloat  on  a  tomb 
stone,  matrimony  wouldn't  have  been  such  unknown  seas  to  me. 
But  you  know  how  it  is,  Miles,  with  a  fellow  that  has  no  'rela 
tions.  He  may  laugh,  and  sing,  and  make  as  much  noise  as  he 
pleases,  and  try  to  make  others  think  he's  in  good  company  the 
whole  time ;  but,  after  all,  he's  nothing  but  a  sort  of  bloody  her 
mit,  that's  travelling  through  life,  all  the  same  as  if  he  was  left 
with  a  few  pigs  on  a  desert  island.  Make-believe  is  much  made 
use  of  in  this  world,  but  it  won't  hold  out  to  the  last.  Now,  of 
all  mortal  beings  that  I  ever  met  with,  you've  fallen  in  with  her 
that  has  least  of  it.  There's  some  make-believe  about  you, 
Miles,  as  when  you  looked  so  bloody  unconcerned  all  the  time 
you  were  ready  to  die  of  love,  as  I  now  1'arn,  for  the  young 
woman  you're  about  to  marry ;  and  mother  has  a  little  of  it, 
dear  old  soul,  when  she  says  she's  perfectly  satisfied  with  the 
son  the  Lord  has  given  her,  for  I'm  not  so  blasted  virtuous  but 
I  might  be  better ;  and  little  Kitty  has  lots  of  it  when  she  pre 
tends  she  would  as  soon  have  one  kiss  from  me  as  two  from 
young  Bright ;  but,  as  for  Lucy  Hardinge,  I  will  say  that  I 


436  MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  n  D . 

never  saw  any  more  make-believe  about  her  tliau  \vas  becoming 
in  a  young  woman." 

This  speech  proved  that  Moses  was  a  man  of  observation. 
Others  might  have  drawn  seemingly  nicer  shades  of  character, 
but  this  sincerity  of  feeling,  truth  of  conduct,  and  singleness  of 
purpose,  formed  the  distinguishing  traits  of  Lucy's  virtues.  I 
was  excessively  gratified  at  finding  that  Marble  rightly  appre 
ciated  one  who  was  so  very,  very  dear  to  me,  and  took  care  to 
let  him  know  as  much,  as  soon  as  he  had  made  his  speech. 

We  were  met  by  the  negroes,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile 
from  the  house.  Neb  acted  as  master  of  the  ceremonies,  or, 
commodore  would  be  the  better  word,  for  he  actually  carried  a 
bit  of  swallow-tail  bunting  that  was  borrowed  from  the  sloop, 
and  there  was  just  as  much  of  ocean  in  the  symbols  used,  as 
comported  with  the  honors  manifested  to  a  seaman.  Old  Cupid 
carried  the  Wallingford  ensign,  and  a  sort  of  harlequinade  had 
been  made  out  of  marlinspikes,  serving  mallets,  sail-maker's 
palms,  and  fids.  The  whole  was  crowned  with  a  plug  of  tobac 
co,  though  I  never  used  the  weed,  except  in  cigars.  Neb  had 
seen  processions  in  town,  as  well  as  in  foreign  countries,  and  he 
took  care  that  the  present  should  do  himself  no  discredit.  It  is 
true,  that  he  spoke  to  me  of  it  afterward,  as  a  "  nigger  proces 
sion,"  and  affected  to  hold  it  cheap  ;  but  I  could  see  that  the 
fellow  was  as  much  pleased  with  the  conceits  he  had  got  up  for 
the  occasion,  as  he  was  mortified  at  the  failure  of  the  whole 
thing.  The  failure  happened  in  this  wise  :  no  sooner  did  I  ap 
proach  near  enough  to  the  elder  blacks  to  have  my  features  fairly 
recognized,  than  the  women  began  to  blubber,  and  the  men  to 
toss  their  arms  and  shout  "  Masser  Mile,"  "  Masser  Mile;"  there 
by  throwing  every  thing  into  confusion,  at  once  placing  feeling 
uppermost,  at  the  expense  of  "  law  and  order." 

To  descend  from  the  stilts  that  seemed  indispensable  to  do 
credit  to  Neb's  imagination,  the  manner  in  which  I  was  received 
by  these  simple-minded  beings  was  infinitely  touching.  All  the 
old  ones  shook  hands  with  me,  while  the  younger  of  both  sexes 
kept  more  aloof,  until  I  went  to  each  in  succession,  and  went 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  437 

through  the  ceremony  of  my  own  accord.  As  for  the  boys, 
they  rolled  over  on  the  grass,  Avhile  the  little  girls  kept  making 
curtsies,  and  repeating  "  welcome  home  to  Clawbonny,  Masscr 
Mile."  My  heart  was  full,  and  I  question  if  any  European  land 
lord  ever  got  so  warm  a  reception  from  his  tenantry,  as  I  received 
from  my  slaves. 

And  welcome  I  was  indeed  to  Clawbonny,  and  most  welcome 
was  Clawbonny  to  me!  In  1804,  New  York  had  still  some 
New  York  feeling  left  in  the  state.  Strangers  had  not  com 
pletely  overrun  her  as  has  since  happened;  and  New  York 
names  were  honored ;  New  York  feelings  had  some  place  among 
us  ;  life,  homes,  firesides,  and  the  graves  of  our  fathers,  not  yet 
being  treated  as  so  many  incidents  in  some  new  speculation. 
Men  then  loved  the  paternal  roof;  and  gardens,  lawns,  orchards, 
and  churchyards,  were  regarded  as  something  other  than  levels 
for  railroads  and  canals,  streets  for  villages,  or  public  promenades 
to  be  called  batteries  or  parks,  as  might  happen  to  suit  alder- 
manic  ambition,  or  editorial  privilege. 

Mr.  Hardinge  met  me  at  the  gate  of  the  little  lawn,  took  me 
in  his  arms,  and  blessed  me  aloud.  We  entered  the  house  in 
silence,  when  the  good  old  man  immediately  set  about  showing 
me,  by  ocular  proof,  that  every  thing  was  restored  as  effectually 
as  I  was  restored  myself.  Venus  accompanied  us,  relating  how 
dirty  she  had  found  this  room,  how  much  injured  that,  and 
otherwise  abusing  the  Daggetts  to  my  heart's  content.  Their 
reign  had  been  short,  however,  and  a  Wallingford  was  once  more 
master  of  the  five  structures  of  Clawbonny.  I  meditated  a 
sixth,  even  that  day,  religiously  preserving  every  stone  that  had 
been  already  laid,  however,  in  my  mind's  intention. 

'The  next  day  was  that  named  by  Lucy  as  the  one  in  which 
she  would  unite  herself  to  me  forever.  No  secret  was  made  of 
the  affair,  but  notice  had  been  duly  given  that  all  at  Clawbonny 
might  be  present.  I  left  home  at  ten  in  the  morning,  in  a  very 
handsome  carriage  that  had  been  built  for  the  occasion,  accom 
panied  by  Moses  attired  as  a  bride' s-maid.  It  is  true  his  dumpy- 
square-built  frame,  rather  caricatured  the  shorts  and  silk  stock 


438  MILES      WALLING  FORD. 

ings,  and  as  we  sat  side  by  side  in  this  guise,  I  saw  liis  eyes 
roaming  from  bis  own  limbs  to  mine.  The  peculiarity  of  Moses's 
toilet  was  that  which  all  may  observe  in  men  of  his  stamp,  who 
come  out  in  full  dress.  The  clothes  a  good  deal  more  than  fit 
them.  Every  thing  is  as  tight  as  the  skin,  and  the  wearer  is  or 
dinarily  about  as  awkward  in  his  movements  and  sensations, 
as  if  he  had  gone  into  society  in  puris  naturalibus.  That 
Moses  felt  the  embarrassment  of  this  novel  attire,  was  sufficiently 
apparent  by  his  looks  and  movements,  to  say  nothing  of  his 
speech. 

"  Miles,  I  do  suppose,"  he  remarked,  as  we  trotted  along, 
"  that  them  that  haven't  had  the  advantage  of  being  brought 
up  at  home  never  get  a  fair  growth.  Now,  here's  these  legs  of 
mine ;  there's  plenty  of  them,  but  they  ought  to  have  been  put 
in  a  stretcher  when  I  was  a  youngster,  instead  of  being  left  to 
run  about  a  hospital.  Well,  I'll  sail  under  bare  poles  this  once, 
to  oblige  you,  bridemaid  fashion ;  but  this  is  the  first  and  last 
time  I  do  such  a  thing.  Don't  forget  to  make  the  signal  when 
I'm  to  kiss  Miss  Lucy." 

My  thoughts  were  not  exactly  in  the  vein  to  enjoy  the  em 
barrassment  of  Moses,  and  I  silenced  him  by  promising  all  he 
asked.  We  were  not  elegant  enough  to  meet  at  the  church, 
but  I  proceeded  at  once  to  the  little  rectory,  where  I  found 
the  good  divine  and  my  lovely  bride  had  just  completed  their 
arrangements.  And  lovely  indeed  was  Lucy,  in  her  simple  but 
beautiful  bridal  attire !  She  was  unattended,  had  none  of  those 
gay  appliances  about  her  that  her  condition  might  have  rendered 
proper,  and  which  her  fortune  would  so  easily  have  commanded. 
Yet  it  was  impossible  to  be  in  her  presence  without  feeling  the 
influence  of  her  virgin  mien  and  simple  elegance.  Iler  dress 
was  a  spotless  but  exquisitely  fine  India  muslin,  well  made  and 
accurately  fitting;  and  her  dark  glossy  hair  was  embellished 
only  by  one  comb  ornamented  with  pearls,  and  wearing  the 
usual  veil.  As  for  her  feet  and  hands,  they  were  more  like 
those  of  a  fairy  than  of  one  human,  while  her  countenance  was 
filled  with  all  the  heart-felt  tenderness  of  her  honest  nature, 


MILES      \V  ALLIN  GF  3  RD.  439 

Around  her  ivory  throat,  and  over  her  polished  shoulders,  hung 
my  own  necklace  of  pearls,  strung  as  they  had  been  on  board 
the  Crisis,  giving  her  bust  an  air  of  affluent  decoration,  while  it 
told  a  long  story  of  distant  adventure  and  of  well-requited  affec 
tion. 

We  had  no  bride's-maids,  (Marble  excepted,)  no  groom' s-men, 
no  other  attendants  than  those  of  our  respective  households. 
No  person  had  been  asked  to  be  present,  for  we  felt  that  our 
best  friends  were  with  us,  when  we  had  these  dependents 
around  us.  At  one  time,  I  had  thought  of  paying  Drewett  tho 
compliment  of  desiring  him  to  be  a  groom's-man,  but  Lucy  set 
the  project  at  rest,  by  quaintly  asking  me  how  I  should  like  to 
have  been  his  attendant,  with  the  same  bride.  As  for  Rupert,  1 
never  inquired  how  he  satisfied  the  scruples  of  his  father,  though 
the  old  gentleman  made  many  apologies  to  me  for  his  absence. 
I  was  heartily  rejoiced,  indeed,  he  did  not  appear,  and  I  think 
Lucy  was  so  also. 

The  moment  I  appeared  in  the  little  drawing-room  of  the  rec 
tory,  which  Lucy's  money  and  taste  had  converted  into  a  very 
pretty  but  simple  room,  my  "bright  and  beauteous  bride"  arose, 
and  extended  to  me  her  long-loved  hand.  The  act  itself,  natural 
and  usual  as  it  was,  was  performed  in  a  way  to  denote  the  frank 
ness  and  tenderness  of  her  character.  Her  color  went  and  came 
ii  little,  but  she  said  nothing.  Without  resuming  her  seat,  she 
quietly  placed  an  arm  in  mine,  and  turned  to  her  father,  as  much 
as  to  say  we  were  ready.  Mr.  Hardinge  led  the  way  to  the 
church,  which  was  but  a  step  from  the  rectory,  and,  in  a  minute 
or  two,  all  stood  ranged  before  the  altar,  with  the  divine  in  the 
chancel.  The  ceremony  commenced  immediately,  and  in  less 
than  five  minutes  I  folded  Lucy  in  my  arms,  as  my  wife.  We 
had  gone  into  the  vestry-room  for  this  part  of  the  affair,  and 
there  it  was  that  we  received  the  congratulations  of  those  hum 
ble,  dark-colored  beings,  who  then  formed  so  material  a  portion 
of  nearly  every  American  family  of  any  means. 

"  I  wish  you  great  joy  and  ebbery  sort  of  happiness,  Masse? 
Mile,"  said  old  Venus,  kissing  my  hand,  though  I  insisted  it 


'140  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

should  be  my  face,  as  had  often  been  her  practice  twenty  years 
before.  "Ah!  dis  was  a  blessed  day  to  old  masser  and  missus, 
could  dey  saw  it,  but.  And  I  won't  speak  of  anoder  blessed  saint 
dat  be  in  heaven.  And  you  too,  my  dear  young  missus ;  now, 
we  all  so  grad  it  be  you,  for  we  did  t'ink,  at  one  time,  dat  would 
nebber  come  to  pass." 

Lucy  laid  her  own  little  white  velvet-like  hand,  with  the  wed 
ding  ring  on  its  fourth  finger,  into  the  middle  of  Venus's  hard 
and  horny  palm,  in  the  sweetest  manner  possible ;  reminding  all 
around  her  that  she  was  an  old  friend,  and  that  she  knew  all  the 
good  qualities  of  every  one  who  pressed  forward  to  greet  her, 
and  to  wish  her  happiness. 

As  soon  as  this  part  of  the  ceremony  was  over,  AVC  repaired  to 
the  rectory,  where  Lucy  changed  her  wedding  robe,  for  what  I 
fancied  was  one  of  the  prettiest  demi-toilette  dresses  I  ever  saw. 
I  know  I  ain  now  speaking  like  an  old  fellow,  whose  thoughts 
revert  to  the  happier  scenes  of  youth  with  a  species  of  dotage, 
but  it  is  not  often  a  man  has  an  opportunity  of  portraying  such 
a  bride  and  wife  as  Lucy  Hardinge.  On  this  occasion  she  re 
moved  the  comb  and  veil,  as  not  harmonizing  with  the  dress  in 
which  she  reappeared,  but  the  necklace  was  worn  throughout  the 
whole  of  that  blessed  day.  As  soon  as  my  bride  was  ready, 
Mr.  Hardinge,  Lucy,  Moses,  and  myself,  entered  the  carriage, 
and  drove  over  to  Clawbonny.  Thither  all  Lucy's  wardrobe 
had  been  sent,  an  hour  before,  under  Chloe's  superintendence, 
who  had  barely  returned  to  the  church  in  time  to  witness  the 
ceremony. 

One  of  the  most  precious  moments  of  my  life,  was  that  in 
which  I  folded  Lucy  in  my  arms  and  welcomed  her  to  the  old 
place  as  its  mistress. 

"We  came  very  near  losing  it,  love,"  I  whispered;  "but  it  is 
now  ours,  unitedly,  and  we  will  be  in  no  hurry  to  turn  our  backs 
on  it." 

This  was  in  a  tete-a-tete,  in  the  family  room,  whither  I  had 
led  Lucy,  feeling  that  this  little  ceremony  was  due  to  my  wife. 
Every  thing  around  us  recalled  former  scenes,  and  tears  were  in 


MILES      WALLING  FORD.  411 

tlic  eyes  of  my  bride  as  she  gently  extricated  horse .f  from  my 
anus. 

"  Let  us  sit  down  a  moment,  Miles,  and  consult  on  family  af 
fairs,  now  we  are  here,"  she  said,  smiling.  "  It  may  be  early  to 
begin,  but  such  old  acquaintances  have  no  need  of  time  to  dis 
cover  each  other's  wishes  and  good  and  bad  qualities.  I  agree 
with  you,  heart  and  mind,  in  saying  we  will  never  turn  our  backs 
on  Clawbonny — dear,  dear  Clawbonny,  where  we  were  children 
together,  Miles ;  Avherc  we  knew  so  well,  and  loved  so  well,  our 
departed  Grace — and  I  hope  and  trust  it  will  ever  be  our  prin 
cipal  residence.  The  country-house  I  inherit  from  Mrs.  Brad- 
fort  is  better  suited  to  modern  tastes  and  habits,  perhaps,  but  it 
can  never  be  one  half  so  dear  to  either  of  us.  I  would  not 
speak  to  you  on  this  subject  before,  Miles,  because  I  wished 
first  to  give  you  a  husband's  just  control  over  me  and  mine,  in 
giving  you  my  hand ;  but,  now,  I  may  and  will  suggest  what 
has  been  passing  in  my  mind  on  this  subject.  Riversedge" — so 
was  Mrs.  Bradfort's  country-house  called — "  is  a  good  residence, 
and  is  sufficiently  well  furnished  for  any  respectable  family.  Ru 
pert  and  Emily  must  live  somewhere,  and  I  feel  certain  it  can 
not  long  be  in  Broadway.  Now  I  have  thought  I  would  reserve 
Riversedge  for  their  future  use.  They  can  take  it  immediately, 
as  a  summer  residence ;  for  I  prize  one  hour  passed  here  more 
than  twenty-four  hours  passed  there." 

"  What,  rebel !  Even  should  I  choose  to  dwell  in  your  West- 
chester  house  ?" 

"  You  will  be  here,  Miles ;  and  it  is  on  your  account  that 
Clawbonny  is  so  dear  to  me.  The  place  is  yours — I  am  yours 
— and  all  your  possessions  should  go  together." 

"  Thank  you,  dearest.  But  will  Rupert  be  able  to  keep  up  a 
town  and  country  house  ?" 

"  The  first,  not  long,  for  a  certainty ;  how  long,  you  know 
better  than  I.  When  I  have  been  your  wife  half  a  dozen  years, 
perhaps  you  will  think  me  worthy  of  knowing  the  secret/  of  the 
money  he  actually  has." 

This  was  said  pleasantly  ;  but  it  was  not  said  Avithout  anxiety. 


442  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

I  reflected  on  the  conditions  of  my  secresy.  Grace  wished  to 
keep  the  facts  from  Lucy,  lest  the  noble-hearted  sister  should 
awaken  a  feeling  in  the  brother  that  might  prevent  her  bequest 
from  being  carried  into  effect.  Then,  she  did  not  think  Lucy 
would  ever  become  my  wife,  and  circumstances  were  changed, 
while  there  was  no  longer  a  reason  for  concealing  the  truth 
from  the  present  applicant,  at  least.  I  communicated  all  that 
had  passed  on  the  subject  to  my  deeply-interested  listener. 
Lucy  received  the  facts  with  sorrow,  though  they  were  no  more 
than  she  had  expected  to  learn. 

"  I  should  be  covered  with  shame,  were  I  to  hear  this  from 
any  other  than  you,  Miles,"  she  answered,  after  a  thoughtful 
pause  ;  "  but  I  knoAv  your  nature  too  well,  not  to  feel  certain 
that  the  sacrifice  scarce  cost  you  a  thought,  and  that  you  re 
gretted  Rupert's  self-forgetfulness  more  than  the  loss  of  the 
money.  I  confess  this  revelation  has  changed  all  my  plans  for 
the  future,  so  far  as  they  were  connected  with  my  brother." 

"  In  what  manner,  dearest  ?  Let  nothing  that  has  happened 
to  me  influence  your  decisions." 

"  In  so  much  as  it  affects  my  views  of  Rupert's  character,  it 
must,  Miles.  I  had  intended  to  divide  Mrs.  Bradfort's  fortune 
equally  with  my  brother.  Had  I  married  any  man  but  you,  I 
should  have  made  this  a  condition  of  our  union ;  but  you  I 
know  so  well,  and  so  well  know  I  could  trust,  that  I  have  found 
a  deep  satisfaction  in  placing  myself,  as  it  might  be,  in  your 
power.  I  know  that  all  my  personal  property  is  already  yours, 
without  reserve,  and  that  I  can  make  no  disposition  of  the  real, 
even  after  I  come  of  age,  without  your  consent.  But  I  had  that 
faith  in  you,  as  to  believe  you  would  let  me  do  as  I  pleased." 

"  Have  it  still,  love.  I  have  neither  need,  nor  wish,  to  inter 
fere." 

"  No,  Miles  ;  it  would  be  madness  to  give  property  to  one  ot 
such  a  character.  If  you  approve,  I  will  make  Rupert  and 
Emily  a  moderate  quarterly  allowance,  with  which,  having  the 
use  of  my  country-place,  they  may  live  respectably.  Further 
than  that,  I  should  consider  it  wrong  to  go." 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  443 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  how  much  I  approved  of  this 
decision,  or  the  applause  I  lavished  on  the  warm-hearted  donor. 
The  sum  Avas  fixed  at  two  thousand  dollars  a  year,  before  we 
left  the  room  ;  and  the  result  was  communicated  to  Rupert  by 
Lucy  herself,  in  a  letter  written  the  very  next  day. 

Our  wedding-dinner  was  a  modest,  but  a  supremely  happy 
meal ;  and  in  the  evening,  the  blacks  had  a  ball  in  a  large  laun 
dry,  that  stood  a  little  apart,  and  which  was  well  enough  suited 
to  such  a  scene.  Our  quiet  and  simple  festivities  endured  for 
several  days  ;  the  "  uner"  of  Neb  and  Chloe  taking  place  very 
soon  after  our  own  marriage,  and  coming  in  good  time  to  fur 
nish  an  excuse  for  dancing  the  Aveek  fairly  out. 

Marble  got  into  trowsers  the  day  after  the  ceremony,  and 
then  he  entered  into  the  frolic  with  all  his  heart.  On  the  whole, 
he  was  relieved  from  being  a  bride's-maid — a  sufficiently  pleas 
ant  thing — but  having  got  along  so  well  with  Lucy,  he  volun 
teered  to  act  in  the  same  capacity  to  Chloe.  The  offer  was  re 
fused,  however,  in  the  following  classical  language  : 

"  No,  Misser  Marble  ;  color  is  color,"  returned  Chloe  ;  "  you's 
white,  and  we's  black.  Mattermony  is  a  berry  solemn  occer- 
pashun ;  and  there  mustn't  be  no  improper  jokes  at  my  uner 
with  Neb  Clawbonny." 


Ill  MILES      WALLINGFOUD. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

"This  disease  is  beyond  my  practice;  yet  I  have  known  those  which  havo  walked  In 
their  sleep,  who  have  died  holily  in  their  beds."  MACBETH. 

THE  honeymoon  was  passed  at  Clawbonny,  and  many,  many 
other  honeymoons  that  have  since  succeeded  it.  I  never  saw  a 
man  more  delighted  than  Mr.  Hardinge  was,  at  finding  me  act 
ually  his  son-in-law.  I  really  believed  he  loved  me  more  than 
he  did  Rupert,  though  he  lived  and  died  in  ignorance  of  his 
own  son's  true  character.  It  would  have  been  cruel  to  unde 
ceive  him ;  and  nothing  particular  ever  occurred  to  bring  about 
an  eclaircissement.  Rupert's  want  of  principle  was  a  negative, 
rather  than  an  active  quality,  and  was  only  rendered  of  account 
by  his  vanity  and  selfishness.  Self-indulgence  was  all  he  aimed 
at,  and  he  was  much  too  self-indulgent  and  shrewd  to  become  an 
active  rogue.  He  would  have  spent  Lucy's  and  my  joint  for 
tunes,  had  they  been  put  at  his  control ;  but,  as  they  never 
were,  he  was  fain  to  limit  his  expenditures  to  such  sums  as  we 
saw  fit  to  give  him,  with  certain  extra  allowances  extorted  by 
his  debts.  Our  intercourse  was  very  much  restricted  to  visits 
of  ceremony,  at  least  on  my  part ;  though  Lucy  saw  him  often- 
er ;  and  no  allusion  was  ever  made  to  the  past.  I  called  him 
"  Mr.  Hardinge,"  and  he  called  me  "  Mr.  Wallingford."  "  Ru 
pert"  and  "  Miles"  were  done  with  forever,  between  us.  I  may 
as  well  dispose  of  the  history  of  this  person  and  his  wife,  at 
once  ;  for  I  confess  it  gives  me  pain  to  speak  of  them,  even  at 
this  distance  of  time. 

Rupert  lived  but  four  years,  after  my  marriage  to  his  sister. 
As  soon  as  he  found  it  necessary  to  give  up  the  Broadway 
house,  he  accepted  the  use  of  Rivcrscdgc  and  his  sister's  $2000 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  445 

a  year,  with  gratitude,  and  managed  to  get  along  on  that  sum, 
apparently,  down  to  the  hour  of  Ms  death.  It  is  true,  that  I 
paid  his  debts,  without  Lucy's  knowledge,,  twice  in  that  short 
period ;  and  I  really  think  he  was  sensible  of  his  errors,  to  a 
certain  extent,  before  his  eyes  were  closed.  lie  left  one  child, 
a  daughter,  who  survived  him  only  a  few  months.  Major  Mor 
ton's  complaints  had  carried  him  off  previously  to  this.  Be 
tween  this  old  officer  and  myself,  there  had  ever  existed  a  spe 
cies  of  cordiality ;  and  I  do  believe  he  sometimes  remembered 
his  various  obligations  to  me  and  Marble,  in  a  proper  temper. 
Like  most  officials  of  free  governments,  he  left  little  or  nothing 
behind  him  ;  so  that  Mrs.  Hardinge  was  totally  dependent  on 
her  late  husband's  friends  for  a  support,  during  her  widowhood. 
Emily  was  one  of  those  semi-worldly  characters,  that  are  not 
absolutely  wanting  in  good  qualities,  while  there  is  always  more 
or  less  of  a  certain  disagreeable  sort  of  calculation  in  all  they 
do.  Rupert's  personal  advantages  and  agreeable  manners  had 
first  attracted  her ;  and  believing  him  to  be  Mrs.  Bradfort's 
heir,  she  had  gladly  married  him.  I  think  she  lived  a  disap 
pointed  woman,  after  her  father's  death ;  and  I  was  not  sorry 
when  she  let  us  know  that  she  was  about  to  "  change  her  condi- 

t* 

tion,"  as  it  is  termed  in  widow's  parlance,  by  marrying  an  elder 
ly  man,  who  possessed  the  means  of  giving  her  all  that  money 
can  bestow.  With  this  second,  or,  according  to  Venus's  no 
menclature,  step-lmsband,  she  went  to  Europe,  and  there  remain 
ed,  dying  only  three  years  ago,  an  amply-endowed  widow.  We 
kept  up  a  civil  sort  of  intercourse  with  her  to  the  last,  actually 
passing  a  few  weeks  with  her,  some  fifteen  years  since,  in  a 
house,  half  barn,  half  castle,  that  she  called  a  palace,  on  one  of 
the  unrivalled  lakes  of  Italy.  As  la  Signora  Montiera,  (Mon- 
tier,)  she  was  sufficiently  respected,  finishing  her  career  as  a 
dowager  of  good  reputation,  and  who  loved  the  "pomps  and 
vanities  of  this  wicked  world."  I  endeavored,  in  this  last  meet 
ing,  to  bring  to  her  mind  divers  incidents  of  her  early  life,  but 
with  a  singular  want  of  success.  They  had  actually  passed,  so 
far  as  her  memory  was  concerned,  into  the  great  gulf  of  time, 


446  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

keeping  company  with  her  sins,  and  appeared  to  be  entirely 
forgotten.  Nevertheless,  la  Signora  was  disposed  to  treat  me 
and  view  me  with  consideration,  as  soon  as  she  found  me  living 
in  credit,  with  money,  horses,  and  carriages  at  command,  and  to 
forget  that  I  had  been  only  a  shipmaster.  She  listened  smiling 
ly,  and  with  patience,  to  what,  I  dare  say,  were  my  prolix  nar 
ratives,  though  her  own  recollections  were  so  singularly  im 
paired.  She  did  remember  something  about  the  wheelbarrow 
and  the  canal  in  Hyde  Park ;  but  as  for  the  voyage  across  the 
Pacific,  most  of  the  incidents  had  passed  out  of  her  mind.  To 
do  her  honor,  Lucy  wore  the  pearls,  on  an  occasion  in  which 
she  gave  a  little  festa  to  her  neighbors ;  and  I  ascertained  she 
did  remember  them.  She  even  hinted  to  one  of  her  guests,  in 
my  hearing,  that  they  had  been  intended  for  her  originally ;  but 
"  we  cannot  command  the  impulses  of  the  heart,  you  know, 
cdra  mia"  she  added,  with  a  very  self-complacent  sort  of  a 
sigh. 

What  of  all  this  ?  The  ci-devant  Emily  was  no  more  than  a 
summary  of  the  feelings,  interests,  and  passions  of  millions,  living 
and  dying  in  a  narrow  circle  erected  by  her  own  vanities,  and 
embellished  by  her  own  contracted  notions  of  what  is  the  end 
and  aim  of  human  existence,  and  within  a  sphere  that  site  fan 
cied  respectable  and  refined. 

As  for  the  race  of  the  Clawbonnys,  all  the  elderly  members 
of  this  extensive  family  lived  and  died  in  my  service,  or  it  might 
be  better  to  say,  I  lived  in  theirs.  Venus  saw  several  repetitions 
of  her  own  charms  in  the  offspring  of  Neb  and  Chloe,  though 
she  pertinaciously  insisted  to  the  last,  that  Cupid,  as  a  step-hus 
band,  had  no  legitimate  connection  with  any  of  the  glistening, 
thick-lipped,  chubby  set.  But  even  closer  family  ties  than  those 
which  bound  my  slaves  to  me,  are  broken  by  the  pressure  of 
human  institutions.  The  conscript  fathers  of  New  York  ha<? 
long  before  determined  that  domestic  slavery  should  not  con 
tinue  within  their  borders ;  and,  one  by  one,  these  younger  de 
pendents  dropped  off,  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  town  or  in  other 
portions  of  the  state,  until  few  were  left  besides  Neb,  his  consort, 


MILES      AVALLINGITORD.  447 

and  their  immediate  descendants.  Some  of  these  last  still  cling 
to  me ;  the  parents  having  instilled  into  the  children,  in  virtue 
of  their  example  and  daily  discourse,  feelings  that  set  at  naught 
the  innovations  of  a  changeable  state  of  society.  With  them, 
Clawbonny  is  still  Clawbonny ;  and  I  and  mine  remain  a  race 
apart,  in  their  perception  of  things.  I  gave  Neb  and  Chloe  their 
freedom-papers  the  day  the  faithful  couple  were  married,  and  at 
once  relieved  their  posterity  from  the  servitude  of  eight-and- 
twentyx  and  five-and-twenty  years,  according  to  sex,  that  might 
otherwise  have  hung  over  all  their  elder  children,  until  the  law, 
by  a  general  sweep,  manumitted  everybody.  These  papers  Neb 
put  in  the  bottom  of  his  tobacco-box,  not  wishing  to  do  any 
discredit  to  a  gift  from  me ;  and  there  I  accidentally  saw  them, 
in  rags,  seventeen  years  later,  not  having  been  opened,  or  seen 
by  a  soul,  as  I  firmly  believe,  in  all  that  time.  It  is  true,  the 
subsequent  legislation  of  the  state  rendered  all  this  of  no  mo 
ment  ;  but  the  procedure  showed  the  character  and  disposition 
of  the  man,  demonstrating  his  resolution  to  stick  by  me  to  the 
last.  He  has  had  no  intention  to  free  me,  whatever  may  have 
been  my  plans  for  himself  and  his  race. 

I  never  had  more  than  one  conversation  with  either  Neb  or 
his  wife,  on  the  subject  of  wages,  and  then  I  discovered  how 
tender  a  thing  it  was  with  the  fellow,  to  place  him  on  a  level 
with  the  other  hired  people  of  my  farm  and  household. 

"  I  won'er  what  I  done,  Masser  Mile,  dat  you  want  to  pay  me 
wages,  like  a  hired  man  ?"  said  Neb,  half  disposed  to  resent,  and 
half  disposed  to  grieve  at  the  proposal.  "  I  was  born  in  de 
family,  and  it  seem  to  me  dat  quite  enough ;  but,  if  dat  isn't 
enough,  I  went  to  sea  wid  you,  Masser  Mile,  de  fuss  day  you 
go,  and  I  go  ebbery  time  since." 

These  words,  uttered  a  little  reproachfully,  disposed  of  the 
matter.  From  that  hour  to  this,  the  subject  of  wages  has  never 
been  broached  between  us.  When  Neb  wants  clothes  he  goes 
and  gets  them,  and  they  are  charged  to  "  Masser  Mile ;"  when 
he  wants  money  he  comes  and  gets  it,  never  manifesting  the 
least  shame  or  reluctance,  but  asking  for  all  he  has  need  of,  like 


448  MILES      WALLINGFOU  D. 

a  man.  Cliloc  docs  the  same  with.  Lucy,  whom  she  regards,  in 
addition  to  her  having  the  honor  to  be  my  wife,  as  a  sort  of 
substitute  for  "  Miss  Grace."  With  this  honest  couple,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Miles  Wallingford,  of  Clawbonny,  and  Riversedge,  and 
Union  Place,  are  still  nothing  but  "  Masser  Mile"  and  "  Miss 
Lucy ;"  and  I  once  saw  an  English  traveller  take  out  her  note 
book,  and  write  something  very  funny,  I  dare  say,  when  sho 
heard  Chloe  thus  address  the  mother  of  three  fine  children,  who 
were  hanging  around  her  knee,  and  calling  her  by  that,  the  most 
endearing  of  all  appellations.  Chloe  was  indifferent  to  the  note 
of  the  traveller,  however,  still  calling  her  mistress  "  Miss  Lucy," 
though  the  last  is  now  a  grandmother. 

As  for  the  children  of  the  house  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  truth 
compels  me  to  say,  that  they  have  been  largely  influenced  by 
the  spirit  of  the  age,  and  that  they  look  on  the  relation  that 
existed  for  more  than  a  century,  between  the  Wallingfords  and 
the  Clawbonnys,  with  eyes  somewhat  different  from  those  of 
their  parents.  They  have  begun  to  migrate,  and  I  am  not  sorry 
to  sec  them  go.  Notwithstanding,  the  tie  will  not  be  wholly 
broken  so  long  as  any  'of  the  older  stock  remain,  tradition  leav 
ing  many  of  its  traces  among  them.  Not  one  has  ever  left  my 
rule  without  my  consent ;  and  I  have  procured  places  for  them 
all,  as  ambition  or  curiosity  has  carried  them  into  the  world. 

As  for  this  new  spirit  of  the  age  that  is  doing  so  much  among 
us,  I  am  not  twaddler  enough  to  complain  of  all  change,  for  I 
know  that  many  of  these  changes  have  had  the  most  beneficial 
effects.  I  am  far  from  thinking  that  domestic  slavery,  as  it 
once  existed  at  Clawbonny,  is  a  picture  of  domestic  slavery  as 
it  existed  throughout  the  land ;  but  I  do  believe  that  the  insti 
tution,  as  it  was  formerly  known  in  Now  York,  was  quite  as 
much  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  white  man,  as  to  that  of  the 
black.  There  was  always  something  of  the  patriarchal  charac 
ter  in  one  of  our  households,  pro viously  to  the  change  in  the 
laws ;  and  the  relation  of  master  and  slave  in  old,  permanent  fam 
ilies,  in  which  plenty  was  no  stranger,  had  ever  more  or  less  of 
that  which  was  respectable  and  endearing.  It  is  not  so  much  in 


MILES     WALLING1TORD.  449 

relation  to  the  abolition  spirit,  (if  it  would  only  confine  its  ex 
ertions  to  communities  over  which  it  may  happen  to  possess 
some  right  of  control,)  that  I  feel  alarmed,  as  in  reference  to  a 
certain  spirit,  which  appears  to  think  there  always  must  be 
more  and  more  change,  and  that  in  connection  with  any  specific 
interest,  whatever  may  have  been  its  advancement  under  pre 
vious  regimes  ;  nothing  in  social  life  being  fully  developed,  ac 
cording  to  the  creed  of  these  movement-philosophers.  Now,  in 
my  view  of  the  matter,  the  two  most  dangerous  of  all  parties  in 
a  state,  arc  that  which  sets  up  conservatism  as  its  standard,  and 
that  which  sets  up  progress :  the  one  is  for  preserving  things  of 
which  it  would  be  better  to  be  rid,  while  the  other  crushes  all 
that  is  necessary  and  useful  in  its  headlong  course.  I  now  speak 
of  these  'opposing  principles,  as  they  are  marshalled  in  parties, 
opposition  giving  pertinacity  and  violence  to  each.  No  sane 
man  can  doubt  that,  in  the  progress  of  events,  much  is  produced 
that  ought  to  be  retained,  and  much  generated  that  it  would  be 
wiser  to  reject.  He  alone  is  the  safe  and  wise  legislator,  who 
knows  how,  and  when,  to  make  the  proper  distinctions.  As  for 
conservatism,  Lafayette  once  characterized  it  excellently  well 
in  one  of  his  happiest  hits  in  the  tribune.  "  Gentlemen  talk  of 
the  just  medium  (juste  milieu)"  he  said,  "  as  if  it  embraced  a 
clear  political  creed.  We  all  know  what  the  just  medium  is,  as 
relates  to  any  particular  question ;  it  is  simply  the  truth,  as  it  is 
connected  with  that  question.  But  when  gentlemen  say,  that 
they  belong  to  the  juste  milieu,  as  a  party,  and  that  they  intend 
to  steer  a  middle  course  in  all  the  public  events  of  the  day,  they 
remind  me  of  a  case  like  this — a  man  of  exaggerated  notions 
lays  down  the  proposition  that  four  and  four  make  ten ;  another 
of  more  discretion  and  better  arithmetic  combats  this  idea,  by 
maintaining  that  four  and  four  make  only  eight ;  whereupon, 
your  gentleman  of  the  juste  milieu,  finds  himself  obliged  to  say, 
'  Messieurs,  you  are  equally  in  the  wrong ;  the  truth  never  lies 
in  extremes,  and  four  and  four  make  nine.' " 

What  is  true  of  conservatism,  as  a  principle,  is  still  more  true 
as  to  the  movement ;  for  it  often  happens  in  morals,  as  well  aa 


450  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

in  physics,  that  the  remedy  is  worse  than  the  disease.  The  great 
evil  of  Europe,  in  connection  with  interests  of  this  nature,  arises 
from  facts  that  have  little  or  no  influence  here.  There,  radical 
changes  have  been  made,  the  very  base  of  the  social  edifice  hav 
ing  been  altered,  while  much  of  the  ancient  architecture  remains 
in  the  superstructure.  Where  this  is  the  case,  some  errors  may 
be  pardoned  in  the  artisans  who  are  for  reducing  the  whole  to 
the  simplicity  of  a  single  order.  But,  among  ourselves,  the  man 
who  can  see  no  end  to  any  thing  earthly,  ever  maintaining  that 
the  best  always  lies  beyond,  if  he  live  long  enough  to  succeed, 
may  live  long  enough  to  discover  that  truth  is  always  on  an 
eminence,  and  that  the  downward  course  is  only  too  easy  to 
those  who  rush  in  so  headlong  a  manner  at  its  goal,  as  to  suf 
fer  the  impetus  of  the  ascent  to  carry  them  past  the  apex. 
A  social  fact  cannot  be  carried  out  to  demonstration  like  a 
problem  in  Euclid,  the  ramifications  being  so  infinite  as  to  re-, 
duco  the  results  to  something  very  like  a  conclusion  from  a 
multitude  of  interests. 

It  is  next  incumbent  to  speak  of  Marble.  He  passed  an  en 
tire  month  at  Clawbonny,  during  which  time  he  and  Neb  rigged 
the  Grace  and  Lucy  seven  different  ways,  coming  back  to  that 
in  which  they  found  her,  as  the  only  rig  in  which  she  would 
sail ;  no  bad  illustration,  by  the  way,  of  what  is  too  often  the 
winding  up  of  experiments  in  overdone  political  movements. 
Moses  tried  shooting,  which  he  had  heard  belonged  to  a  country 
life ;  and  he  had  a  sort  of  design  to  set  up  as  a  fourth  or  fifth 
class  country  gentleman  ;  but  his  legs  were  too  short  to  clamber 
over  high  rail-fences  with  any  comfort,  and  he  gave  up  the 
amusement  in  despair.  In  the  course  of  a  trial  of  ten  days,  he 
brought  in  three  robins,  a  small  squirrel,  and  a  crow ;  main 
taining  that  he  had  also  wounded  a  pigeon,  and  frightened  a 
whole  flock  of  quails.  I  have  often  bagged  ten  brace  of  wood 
cocks  of  a  morning,  in  the  shooting-grounds  of  Clawbonny,  and 
as  many  quails  in  their  season. 

Six  weeks  aftor  our  marriage,  Lucy  and  I  paid  Willow  Cove 
a  visit,  where  we  passed  a  very  pleasant  week.  To  my  surprise, 


MILES     "WALLINQFORD.  451 

T  received  a  visit  from  'Squire  Van  Tassel,  who  seemed  to  bear 
no  malice.  Marble  made  peace  with  him,  as  soon  as  he  paid 
back  the  amount  of  his  father's  bond,  principal  and  interest, 
though  he  always  spoke  of  him  contemptuously  to  me  in  private. 
I  must  confess  I  was  astonished  at  the  se.emingly  forgiving  tem 
per  of  the  old  usurer;  but  I  was  then  too  young  to  understand 
that  there  are  two  principles  that  govern  men's  conduct  as  re 
gards  their  associations  ;  the  one  proceeding  from  humility  and 
Christian  forgiveness,  and  the  other  from  an  indifference  to  what 
is  right.  I  am  afraid  the  last  produces  more  of  what  is  called  a 
forgiving  temper  than  the  first ;  men  being  often  called  vindic 
tive,  when  they  are  merely  honest. 

Marble  lost  his  mother  about  a  twelvemonth  after  we  returned 
from  our  unfortunate  voyage  in  the  Dawn.  A  month  or  two 
earlier,  he  lost  his  niece,  little  Kitty,  by  a  marriage  with  the  son 
of  "  neighbor  Bright."  After  this,  he  passed  much  of  his  time 
at  Clawbonny,  making  occasional  visits  to  us,  in  Chamber  street, 
in  the  winter.  I  say  in  Chamber  street,  as  trade  soon  drove  us 
out  of  Lucy's  town  residence  in  Wall  street.  The  lot  on  which 
the  last  once  stood  is  still  her  property,  and  is  a  small  fortune 
of  itself.  I  purchased  and  built  in  Chamber  street,  in  1S05; 
making  an  excellent  investment.  In  1825,  we  went  into  Bleecker 
street,  a  mile  higher  up  town,  in  order  to  keep  in  the  beau 
quartier  ;  and  I  took  advantage  of  the  scarcity  of  money  and 
low  prices  of  1839,  to  take  up  new  ground  in  Union  Place,  very 
nearly  a  league  from  the  point  where  Lucy  commenced  as  a 
housekeeper  in  the  good  and  growing  town  of  Manhattan. 

After  Marble  found  himself  an  orphan  again,  he  complained 
that  he  was  little  better  off  than  a  "  bloody  hermit"  at  Willow 
Cove,  and  began  to  talk  about  seeing  the  world.  All  of  a  sud  • 
den,  he  made  his  appearance  at  Clawbonny,  bag  and  baggage, 
and  announced  an  intention  to  look  for  a  mate's  berth  in  some 
East  Indiaman.  I  heard  his  story,  kept  him  a  day  or  two  with 
me,  while  I  superintended  the  masons  who  were  building  my  ad 
dition  to  the  house,  which  was  then  nearly  completed,  and  then 
we  proceeded  to  town  in  company.  I  took  Moses  to  the  ship- 


452  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

yards,  and  carried  him  on  board  a  vessel  that  was  just  rccciv 
ing  her  spars,  (she  was  coppered  and  copper-fastened,  A  No.  1 
<~>f  live-oak  frame,  and  southern  pine  decks,  etc.,)  asking  him  how 
he  liked  her.  lie  hoped  she  had  a  good  name.  "  Why,  she 
is  called  the  Smudge,"  I  answered.  "I  hope  you  fancy  it."  Mo 
ses  jerked  a  finger  over  his  shoulder,  as  much  as  to  say  he  un 
derstood  me,  and  inquired  where  I  intended  to  send  the  craft. 
"  To  Canton,  with  you  for  master."  I  saw  that  my  old  mate 
was  touched  with  this  proof  of  confidence,  and  that  his  self- 
esteem  had  so  much  risen  with  the  discovery  of  his  origin  that 
he  made  no  objections  to  the  trust.  I  did  not  intend  to  go 
regularly  into  commerce,  but  I  kept  the  Smudge  running  many 
years,  always  under  Marble,  and  made  a  vast  deal  of  money  by 
her.  Once  she  went  to  Europe,  Lucy  and  I  going  in  her  as 
passengers.  This  was  after  the  death  of  my  dear  old  guardian, 
who  made  such  an  end  as  became  his  virtuous  and  Christian 
life.  We,  that  is  Lucy  and  I,  remained  abroad  several  years, 
retaining  home  in  the  Smudge,  and  on  the  last  voyage  she  ever 
made  as  belonging  to  me.  Neb  had  often  been  out  in  the 
ship,  just  to  vary  the  scene  ;  and  he  came  to  Havre  in  her,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  when  "  Masser  Mile,"  "  Miss  Lucy,"  and  their 
two  "  young  massers,"  and  two  "  young  missusses,"  were  ready 
to  come  home.  I  was  a  good  deal  shocked  at  meeting  my  old 
friend,  Moses,  on  this  occasion,  for  he  was  breaking  up  fast, 
being  now  hard  on  upon  seventy ;  a  time  of  life  when  most  sea 
men  are  unfit  for  their  calling.  Moses,  however,  had  held  on, 
with  a  determination  to  convey  us  all  back  to  Clawbonny. 
Three  days  after  we  had  sailed,  the  man  of  stone  had  to  give 
up,  and  take  to  his  berth.  I  saw  that  his  days  were  number 
ed,  and  felt  it  to  be  a  duty  to  let  him  know  his  real  situation. 
It  was  an  unpleasant  office,  but  became  less  so  by  the  resign 
ed  and  manly  manner  in  which  the  invalid  heard  me.  It  was 
only  when  I  ceased  speaking,  that  he  made  an  attempt  to  reply. 
"  I  have  known  that  the  v'y'ge  of  life  was  pretty  near  up, 
Miles,"  he  then  answered,  "for  many  a  day.  When  the  timbers 
complain  and  the  new  tree-nails  hit  only  decayed  wood,  it  is 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  453 

time  to  think  of  breaking  up  the  hull  for  the  craft's  copper  and 
old  iron.  I've  pretty  much  worn  out  the  Smudge,  and  the 
Smudge  has  pretty  much  worn  out  me.  I  shall  never  see  Arner- 
iky,  and  I  now  give  up  charge  of  the  craft  to  you.  She  is  your 
own,  and  nobody  can  take  better  care  of  her.  I  own  I  should 
like  to  be  cased  in  something  that  once  belonged  to  her.  There's 
the  bulkhead  that  was  taken  down,  to  alter  the  state-rooms  for 
your  family — it  would  make  as  comfortable  a  coffin  as  a  body 
could  want." 

I  promised  the  old  man  all  should  be  done,  as  he  desired. 
After  a  short  pause,  it  struck  me  the  present  might  be  a  favor 
able  moment  to  say  a  word  on  the  subject  of  the  future.  Mar 
ble  was  never  a  vicious  man,  nor  could  he  be  called  a  particu 
larly  wicked  man,  as  the  world  goes.  He  was  thoroughly  honest, 
after  making  a  few  allowances  for  the  peculiar  opinions  of  sea 
men,  and  his  sins  were  principally  those  of  omission.  But,  of 
religious  instruction  he  had  literally  known  none,  in  early  life. 
That  which  he  had  picked  up  in  his  subsequent  career,  was  not 
of  the  most  orthodox  character.  I  had  often  thought  Marble 
was  well  disposed  on  such  subjects,  but  opportunity  was  always 
wanting  to  improve  this  hopeful  disposition.  Accordingly,  I 
now  spoke  plainly  to  him,  and  I  could  see  his  still  keen  eyes 
turned  wistfully  toward  me,  more  than  once,  as  he  listened  with 
an  absorbed  attention. 

"  Ay,  ay,  Miles,"  he  answered,  when  I  was  through,  "  this  may 
all  be  true  enough,  but  it's  rather  late  in  the  day  for  me  to  go 
to  school.  I've  heard  most  of  it  before,  in  one  shape  or  an 
other,  but  it  always  came  so  much  in  scraps  and  fragments,  that 
before  I  could  bend  one  idee  on  to  another,  so  as  to  make  any 
useful  gear  of  the  whole,  some  of  the  pieces  have  slipped  through 
my  fingers.  Hows'ever,  I've  been  hard  at  work  at  the  good  book, 
the  whole  of  this  v'y'ge,  and  you  know  it's  been  a  long  one ;  and 
I  must  say  that  I've  picked  up  a  good  deal  that  seems  to  me  to 
be  of  the  right  quality.  Now  I  always  thought  it  was  one  of 
the  foolishest  things  a  man  could  do,  to  forgive  one's  enemies, 
my  rule  having  been  to  return  broadside  for  broadside,  as  you 


454  MILES      WALLINOFORD. 

must  pretty  well  know ;  but  I  now  see  that  it  is  more  like  a  kind 
natur'  to  pardon,  than  to  revenge." 

"  My  dear  Moses,  this  is  a  very  hopeful  frame  of  mind ;  carry 
out  this  feeling  in  all  things,  leaning  on  the  Saviour  alone  for 
your  support,  and  your  dying  liour  may  well  be  the  happiest  of 
your  life." 

"There's  that  bloody  Smudge,  notwithstanding;  I  hardly 
think  it  will  be  expected  of  me  to  look  upon  him  as  any  thing 
but  a  'long-shore  pirate,  and  a  fellow  to  be  disposed  of  in  the 
shortest  way  possible.  As  for  old  Van  Tassel,  he's  gone  to 
square  the  yards  in  a  part  of  the  univarse  where  all  his  tricks 
•will  be  known  ;  and  I  hold  it  to  be  onreasonable  to  carry  spite 
ag'in  a  man  beyond  the  grave.  I  rather  think  I  have  altogether 
forgiven  him ;  though,  to  speak  the  truth,  he  desarved  a  rope's- 
cnding." 

I  understood  Marble  much  better  than  he  understood  himself. 
He  felt  the  sublime  beauty  of  the  Christian  morality,  but  at  the 
same  time,  he  felt  there  were  certain  notions  so  rooted  in  his 
own  heart,  that  it  exceeded  his  power  to  extract  them.  As  for 
Smudge,  his  mind  had  its  misgivings  concerning  the  propriety 
of  his  own  act,  and,  with  the  quickness  of  his  nature,  sought  to 
protect  itself  against  its  own  suggestions,  by  making  an  excep 
tion  of  that  wretch,  as  against  the  general  mandates  of  God. 
Van  Tassel  he  probably  could,  in  a  manner,  pardon,  the  mischief 
having  been  in  a  measure  repaired ;  though  it  was  a  forgiveness 
that  was  strangely  tinctured  with  his  own  deep  contempt  for 
the  meanness  of  the  transgressor. 

Our  conversation  lasted  a  long  time.  At  length  Lucy  joined 
in  it,  when  I  thought  it  wisest  to  leave  the  old  tar  in  the  hands 
of  one  so  well  fitted  by  nature  and  education  to  be  the  instru 
ment,  under  the  providence  of  God,  of  bringing  him  to  a  more 
healthful  view  of  his  condition.  I  had  the  ship  to  take  care  of, 
and  this  was  a  good  excuse  for  not  interfering  much  with  what 
passed  between  the  dying  man  and  her  who  might  almost  be 
termed  his  ministering  angel.  I  overheard  many  of  their  con 
ferences,  and  was  present  at  some  of  their  prayers,  as  were 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  455 

ruy  sons  and  daughters;  being  thus  enabled  to  understand  the 
progress  that  was  made,  and  the  character  of  the  whole  proced 
ure. 

It  was  an  admirable  sight,  truly,  to  see  that  still  lovely  wom 
an,  using  all  the  persuasion  of  her  gentle  rhetoric,  all  the  elo 
quence  of  her  warm  feelings  and  just  mind,  devoting  herself  for 
days  and  days  to  the  labor  of  leading  such  a  spirit  as  that  of 
Marble's  to  entertain  just  and  humble  views  of  his  own  relation 
to  the  Creator  and  his  Son,  the  Saviour  of  men.  I  Avill  not  say 
that  complete  success  crowned  the  pious  efforts  of  the  single- 
hearted  woman  it  was  my  blessed  fortune  to  call  my  Avife  :  this, 
perhaps,  was  not  to  be  expected.  It  required  a  power  exceed 
ing  hers  to  guide  the  human  heart  at  seventy,  after  a  seaman's 
life,  to  a  full  repentance  of  its  sins  ;  but,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
so  much  seemed  to  be  accomplished,  as  to  give  us  all  reason  to 
hope  that  the  seed  had  taken  root,  and  that  the  plant  might 
grow  under  the  guidance  of  that  Spirit  in  whose  likeness  the 
most  lowly  of  the  race  has  been  created. 

The  passage  was  long,  but  very  tranquil,  and  there  was  ample 
time  for  all  that  has  been  related.  The  ship  was  still  to  the 
eastward  of  the  Grand  Banks,  when  Marble  ceased  to  converse 
much ;  though  it  was  evident  his  thoughts  were  intently  musing. 
He  fell  away  fast,  and  I  began  to  look  forward  to  his  final  de 
parture,  as  an  event  that  might  occur  at  any  hour.  He  did  not 
seem  to  suffer,  but  his  hold  of  life  gradually  gave  way,  and  the 
spirit  was  about  to  take  its  departure,  purely  on  account  of  the 
decayed  condition  of  the  earthly  tenement  in  which  it  had  so 
long  dwelt,  as  the  stork  finally  deserts  the  tottering  chimney. 

About  a  week  after  this  change,  my  son  Miles  came  to  me  on 
deck,  and  informed  me  his  dear  mother  desired  to  see  me  in  the 
cabin.  On  going  below,  I  was  met  by  Lucy,  with  a  face  that 
denoted  how  solemn  she  felt  was  the  character  of  the  intelligence 
she  had  to  communicate. 

"  The  moment  is  at  hand,  dear  Miles,"  she  said.  "  Our  old 
friend  is  about  to  be  called  away." 

I  felt  a  pang  at  this  speech,  though  ]  had  long  expected  the 


45G  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

result.  Many  of  the  earlier  and  more  adventurous  years  of  my 
life  passed  rapidly  in  review  before  me,  and  I  found  the  image 
of  the  dying  man  blended  -with  nearly  all.  Whatever  may  have 
been  his  peculiarities,  to  me  he  had  always  been  true.  From 
the  hour  when  I  first  shipped,  as  a  runaway  boy,  on  board  the 
John,  down  to  that  hour,  Moses  Marble  had  proved  himself  a 
firm  and  disinterested  friend  to  Miles  Wallingford. 

"  Is  he  conscious  ?"  I  asked,  anxiously.  "  When  I  last  saw 
him,  I  thought  his  rnind  wandered  a  little." 

"  Perhaps  it  did ;  but  he  is  now  more  collected,  if  not  entirely 
so.  There  is  reason  to  think  he  has  at  length  felt  some  of  the 
influence  of  the  Redeemer's  sacrifice.  For  the  last  week,  the 
proofs  of  this  have  been  increasing." 

No  more  passed  between  Lucy  and  me,  on  the  subject,  at 
that  time ;  but  I  entered  the  cabin  in  which  the  cot  of  Marble 
had  been  slung.  It  was  a  spacious,  airy  room,  for  a  ship  ;  one 
that  had  been  expressly  fitted  by  my  orders,  for  the  convenience 
of  Lucy  and  her  two  daughters,  but  which  those  dear,  self-deny 
ing  creatures  had  early  and  cheerfully  given  up  to  the  possession 
of  their  old  friend. 

As  yet,  I  have  not  particularly  spoken  of  these  two  girls,  the 
eldest  of  whom  was  named  Grace,  and  the  youngest  Lucy.  At 
that  tune,  the  first  was  just  fifteen,  -while  her  sister  was  two 
years  younger.  By  a  singular  coincidence,  Grace  resembled 
the  women  of  my  family  most ;  while  the  latter,  the  dear,  in 
genuous,  frank,  pretty  little  tiling,  had  so  much  likeness  to  hei 
mother,  when  at  the  same  time  of  life,  that  I  often  caught  her 
in  my  arms,  and  kissed  her,  as  she  uttered  some  honest  senti 
ment,  or  laughed  joyously  and  melodiously,  as  had  been  the 
practice  of  her  who  bore  her,  twenty  years  before.  On  those  oc 
casions,  Lucy  would  smile,  and  sometimes  a  slight  blush  would 
suffuse  her  face ;  for  I  could  see  she  well  understood  the  im 
pulse  which  would  so  suddenly  carry  me  off  to  the  days  of  my 
boyhood  and  boyish  affection. 

On  the  present  solemn  occasion  both  the  girls  were  in  the 
cabin,  struggling  to  be  calm,  and  doing  all  that  lay  in  their 


MILKS      WALLINGFOUD.  457 

power  to  solace  the  dying  mail.  Grace,  the  oldest,  was  the 
most  active  and  efficient,  of  course,  her  tender  years  inducing 
diffidence  in  her  sister ;  still,  that  little  image  of  her  mother 
could  not  be  kept  entirely  in  the  background,  when  the  heart 
and  desire  to  be  useful  were  urging  her  to  come  out  of  herself, 
in  order  to  share  in  her  sister's  duties. 

I  found  Marble  quite  sensible,  and  the  anxious  manner  in 
which  he  slowly  examined  all  the  interested  faces  that  were  now 
gathered  about  his  bed,  proved  how  accurately  he  noted  the 
present  and  the  absent.  Twice  did  he  go  over  us  all,  ere  he 
spoke  in  the  husky  tones  that  usually  precede  death. 

"  Call  Neb,"  he  said — "  I  took  leave  of  my  mates,  and  of  all 
the  rest  of  the  men,  yesterday ;  but  I  consider  Neb  as  one  of 
the  family,  Miles,  and  left  him  for  the  last." 

This  I  knew  to  be  true,  though  I  purposely  absented  myself 
from  a  scene  that  I  well  understood  would  have  to  be  repeated 
in  my  case.  Neb  was  summoned  accordingly,  not  a  syllable 
being  uttered  among  us,  until  the  black  stood  just  without  the 
circle  of  my  own  wife  and  children.  Moses  watched  the  ar 
rangement  jealously,  and  it  seems  he  was  dissatisfied  at  seeing 
his  old  shipmate  keeping  so  much  aloof  at  that  solemn  and  ab 
sorbing  moment. 

"You  are  but  a  nigger,  I  know,  Neb,"  the  old  seaman  got 
out,  "  but  your  heart  would  do  honor  to  a  king.  It's  next  to 
Miles's,  and  that's  as  much  as  can  be  said  of  any  man's.  Come 
nearer,  boy ;  none  here  will  grudge  you  the  liberty." 

Little  Lucy  drew  back  in  an  instant,  and  fairly  pulled  Neb 
into  the  place  she  herself  had  just  before  occupied. 

"  Bless  you  for  that,  young  'un,"  said  Marble.  "  I  didn't 
know  your  mother  when  she  was  of  your  age,  but  I  can  see  that 
one  cat-block  is  not  more  like  another  than  you  are  like  what 
she  was  at  your  age ;  keep  that  likeness  up,  my  dear,  and  then 
your  father  will  be  as  happy  and  fortinatc  in  his  darter  as  he  has 
been  in  his  wife.  AVell,  nobody  desarves  his  luck  better  than 
Miles — providential  luck,  I  mean,  my  dear  Madam  Wallingford," 
interpreting  a  sorrowful  expression  of  Lucy's  eyes  aright ;  "  for 
20 


458  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

thanks  to  your  teaching,  I  now  understand  there  is  a  divine  di 
rector  of  all  our  fortins,  whether  ashore  or  afloat,  black  or  white." 

"There  is  not  a  sparrow  falls,  Captain  Marble,"  said  the 
gentle,  earnest  voice  of  my  wife,  "  that  he  does  not  note  it." 

"  Yes,  so  I  understand  it  now,  though  once  I  thought  little  of 
such  things.  Thus,  when  we  were  wracked  in  the  Dawn,  Neb,  it 
was  by  God's  will,  and  with  a  design,  like,  to  bring  us  three  all  on 
to  our  present  fortin,  and  present  frame  of  mind ;  should  I  ever 
use  the  word  luck,  ag'in,  which  I  may  be  likely  enough,  to  do 
from  habit,  you  are  all  to  understand  I  mean  what  I  call  provi 
dential  luck.  Yes,  Madam  Wallingford,  I  comprehend  it  per 
fectly,  and  shall  never  forget  your  kindness,  which  has  been  to 
me  the  best  turn  of  providential  luck  that  has  ever  happened. 
I've  sent  for  you,  Neb,  to  have  a  parting  word,  and  to  give  you 
the  advice  of  an  old  man  before  I  quit  this  world  altogether." 

Neb  began  to  twist  Ms  fingers,  and  I  could  see  tears  glisten 
ing  in  his  eyes ;  for  his  attachment  to  Marble  was  of  very  long 
standing  and  of  proof.  When  men  have  gone  through,  together, 
as  much  as  we  three  had  experienced  in  company,  indeed,  the 
most  trifling  griefs  of  every  day  life  get  to  appear  so  insignifi 
cant,  that  our  connection  seems  to  be  one  of  a  nature  altogether 
stronger  than  the  commoner  ties. 

"  Yes,  sah,  Cap'in  Marble,  sah ;  what  please  to  be  your  wish, 
sail?"  asked  the  negro,  struggling  to  subdue  his  grief. 

"  To  say  a  few  words  of  advice,  Neb,  to  take  leave  of  my 
friends,  and  then  to  be  struck  off  the  shipping  articles  of  life. 
Old  age  and  hard  sarvice,  Neb,  has  made  me  veer  cable  to  the 
better  end.  The  stopper  is  working  loose,  and  a  few  more 
surges  will  leave  the  hulk  adrift.  The  case  is  different  with 
you,  who  are  in  your  prime,  and  a  prune  chap  be  you,  on  a  yard 
or  at  the  wheel.  My  parting  advice  to  you,  Neb,  is,  to  hold 
out  as  you've  begun.  I  don't  say  you're  without  failin's,  (what 
nigger  is  ?)  but  you're  a  good  fellow,  and  as  sartain  to  be  found 
in  your  place  as  the  pumps.  In  the  first  place,  you're  a  married 
man ;  and,  though  your  wife  is  only  a  negress,  she's  your  wife, 
and  you  must  stick  to  her  through  thick  and  thin.  Take  your 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  459 

master  as  an  example,  and  obsarve  how  lie  loves  and  cherishes 
your  mistress,"  [here  Lucy  pressed,  gently,  closer  to  my  side ;] 
and  then,  as  to  your  children,  bring  'em  up  accordin'  to  the 
advice  of  Madam  Wallingford.  You  can  never  sail  under  better 
instructions  than  hern,  as  I  know,  by  experience.  Be  particular 
to  make  that  Hector  of  yours  knock  off  from  swearing;  he's 
begun,  and  what's  begun  in  sin  is  pretty  sartain  to  have  an 
cndin'.  Talk  to  him,  first,  and,  if  that  won't  do,  rope's-end  it 
out  of  him.  There's  great  vartue  in  ratlin  stuff,  among  boys. 
As  for  yourself,  Neb,  hold  on  as  you  have  begun,  and  the  Lord 
Avill  have  marcy  on  you,  before  the  v'y'ge  is  up." 

Here  Marble  ceased  from  exhaustion ;  though  he  made  a  sign 
to  Neb  not  to  move,  as  he  had  more  to  say.  After  resting  a 
little,  he  felt  under  his  pillow,  whence  he  produced  a  very  old 
tobacco-box,  fumbled  about  until  he  had  opened  it,  took  a  small 
bite,  and  shut  the  box  again.  All  this  was  done  very  slowly, 
and  with  the  uncertain,  feeble  movements  of  a  dying  man. 
When  the  lid  was  replaced,  Marble  held  the  box  toward  Neb, 
and  resumed  his  address. 

"  Use  that  for  my  sake,  Neb,"  he  said.  "  It  is  full  of  excel 
lent  tobacco,  and  the  box  has  the  scent  of  thirty  years  in  it — 
that  being  the  time  it  has  sailed  in  my  company.  That  box 
has  been  in  nine  fights,  seven  wracks,  and  has  seen  more  boat- 
sarvicc  than  most  London  watermen,  or  any  Whitehallcr  of  'em 
all.  Among  other  explites,  it  has  been  round  the  world  four 
times,  besides  having  run  the  Straits  of  Magellan  in  the  dark,  as 
might  be — as  your  master  and  you  know  as  well  as  I  do.  Take 
that  box,  therefore,  lad,  and  be  particular,  always,  to  put  none 
but  the  best  of  pig-tail  in  it,  for  it's  used  to  that  only.  And 
now,  Neb,  a  word  about  a  little  duty  you're  to  do  for  me,  when 
you  get  in.  Ask  your  master,  first,  for  leave,  and  then  go  up 
to  Willow  Cove,  and  carry  my  blessin'  to  Kitty  and  her  chil 
dren.  It's  easy  done,  if  a  man  sets  about  it  in  the  right  spirit. 
All  you  have  to  do  is  to  go  up  to  the  Cove,  and  say  that  I 
prayed  to  God  to  bless  'cm  all,  before  I  died.  Do  you  think 
you  can  remember  that  ?" 


400  MILES      AVALLINGFORD. 

"  I  try,  Cap'in  Marble,  sah — yes,  sab,  I  try  all  I  can,  dough. 
I'm  no  scholar." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  confide  this  office  to  me,"  said  the 
musical  voice  of  my  wife. 

Marble  was  pleased,  and  he  seemed  every  way  disposed  to 
accept  the  offer. 

"  I  didn't  like  to  trouble  you  so  much,"  he  answered,  "  though 
I  feel  grateful  for  the  offer.  Well,  then,  Neb,  you  may  leave 
the  blessin'  unsaid,  as  your  mistress  is  so  kind — hold  on  a  bit ; 
you  can  give  it  to  Chloe  and  her  little  family — all  but  Hector,  I 
moan  but  not  to  him  unless  he  knocks  off  swearing !  As  soon 
as  he  does  that,  why  let  him  have  his  share.  Now,  Neb,  give 
me  your  hand.  Good-by,  boy ;  you've  been  true  to  me,  and 
God  bless  you  for  it.  You  are  but  a  nigger,  I  know ;  but  there's 
One  in  whose  eyes  your  soul  is  as  precious  as  that  of  many  a 
prince  and  priest." 

Neb  shook  hands  with  his  old  commander,  broke  out  of  the 
circle,  rushed  into  the  steerage,  and  blubbered  like  a  baby.  In 
the  mean  time  Marble  paused  to  recover  his  own  self-possession, 
which  had  been  a  little  disturbed  by  the  feeling  manifested  by 
the  black.  As  soon  as  he  felt  himself  a  little  composed,  he 
hunted  about  his  cot  until  he  found  two  small  paper  boxes,  each 
of  which  contained  a  very  pretty  ring,  that  it  seemed  he  had 
purchased  for  this  express  purpose  when  last  in  port.  These 
rings  he  gave  to  my  daughters,  who  received  the  presents  sob 
bing,  though  with  strong  natural  exhibitions  of  the  friendly  sen 
timents  they  entertained  for  him. 

"  Your  father  and  I  have  gone  through  many  hardships  and 
trials  together,"  he  said,  "  and  I  love  you  all  even  more  than  I 
love  my  own  relations.  I  hope  this  is  not  wrong,  Madam  Wal- 
lingford,  for  it's  out  of  my  power  to  help  it.  I've  already  given 
my  keepsakes  to  the  boys,  and  to  your  parents,  and  I  hope  all 
of  you  will  sometimes  remember  the  poor  old  sea-dog  that  God, 
in  his  wisdom,  threw  like  a  waif  in  your  way,  that  he  might  be 
benefited  by  your  society.  There's  your  polar  star,  young 
'mi?,"  pointing  to  my  wife.  "  Keep  God  in  mind  always,  and 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  461 

give  to  this  righteous  woman  the  second  place  in  your  hearts — 
not  that  I  say  a  word,  or  think  any  thing  ag'in  your  father, 
who's  a  glorious  fellow  in  his  way,  but,  a'tcr  all,  young  women 
should  copy  a'ter  their  mothers,  when  they've  such  a  mother  as 
yourn,  the  best  of  fathers  fallin'  far  astern,  in  gentleness  and 
other  vartues." 

The  girls  wept  freely,  and  Marble,  after  waiting  a  few  minutes, 
took  a  solemn  leave  of  all  my  children,  desiring  everybody  but 
Lucy  and  myself  to  quit  the  cabin.  An  hour  passed  in  dis 
course  with  us  two,  during  which  Moses  frequently  exhorted 
me  to  give  ear  to  the  pious  counsels  of  my  wife,  for  he  mani 
fested  much  anxiety  for  the  future  welfare  of  my  soul. 

"  I've  generalized  a  great  deal  over  that  affair  of  Smudge  the 
Avhole  of  this  v'y'ge,"  he  continued,  "and  I've  had  sore  misgivings 
consarning  the  explitc.  Madam  Wallingford,  however,  has  eased 
my  mind  on  that  score,  by  showing  me  how  to  lay  the  burthen 
of  this,  with  all  the  rest  of  the  load  of  my  sins,  on  the  love  of 
Christ.  I  am  resigned  to  go,  Miles,  for  it  is  time,  and  I'm  get 
ting  to  be  useless.  It's  wicked  to  wish  to  run  a  ship  after  her 
frame  has  worked  loose,  and  nothing  now  fastens  me  to  life  but 
you.  I  own  it's  hard  to  part,  and  my  mind  has  had  some  weak 
ness  on  the  matter.  However,  Miles,  my  dear  boy,  for  boy  you 
are  still  in  my  eyes,  there  is  comfort  in  looking  ahead.  Go  by 
your  wife's  rules,  and  when  the  v'y'ge  is  up  we  shall  all  find  our 
selves  in  the  same  haven." 

"  It  gives  me  much  happiness,  Moses,  to  find  you  in  this  frame 
of  mind,"  I  answered.  "  Since  you  must  quit  us,  you  will  not 
leave  one  behind  of  the  name  of  Wallingford,  that  will  not  re 
joice  at  this  prospect  for  the  future.  As  for  your  sins,  God  has 
both  the  power  and  the  will  to  lighten  you  of  their  weight, 
when  he  finds  you  disposed  to  penitence,  and  to  make  use  of 
the  mediation  of  his  blessed  Son.  If  there  is  any  thing  you  de 
sire  to  have  done  hereafter,  this  is  a  very  proper  time  to  let  me 
know  it." 

"  I've  made  a  will,  Miles,  and  you'll  find  it  in  my  desk.  There 
arc  some  trifles  given  to  you  and  yourn,  but  you  want  not  gold, 


40^'  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

and  the  rest  all  goes  to  Kitty  and  her  children.  There  is  a 
p'int,  however,  on  which  my  mind  is  very  ondetarmined,  and  I 
will  now  lay  it  before  you.  Don't  you  think  it  more  becoming 
for  a  seaman  to  be  buried  in  blue  water,  than  to  be  tuck'd  up  in 
a  churchyard  ?  I  do  not  like  tombstones,  having  had  too  much 
of  them  in  'arly  youth,  and  feel  as  if  I  want  sea-room.  What 
is  your  opinion,  Miles  ?" 

"  Decide  for  yourself.     Your  wishes  will  be  our  law." 

"  Then  roll  me  up  in  my  cot  and  launch  me  overboard,  in  the 
old  way.  I  have  sometimes  thought  it  might  be  well  to  lie 
at  my  mother's  side ;  but  she'll  excuse  an  old  tar  for  preferring 
blue  water  to  one  of  your  country  churchyards." 

After  this,  I  had  several  interviews  with  the  old  man,  though 
he  said  nothing  more  on  the  subject  of  his  interment,  that  of  his 
property,  or  that  of  his  departure.  Lucy  read  the  Bible  to  him 
two  or  three  times  every  day,  and  she  prayed  with  him  often. 
On  one  occasion,  I  heard  a  low,  sweet  voice,  near  his  cot,  and 
taking  a  look,  ascertained  it  wras  my  little  pet,  my  daughter 
Lucy,  then  only  thirteen,  reading  a  second  time  a  chapter  that 
her  mother  had  gone  through  only  an  hour  before,  with  sonic 
of  her  own  remarks.  The  comments  were  wanting  now,  but 
the  voice  had  the  same  gentle  earnestness,  the  same  sweet  mod 
ulations,  and  the  same  impressive  distinctness  as  that  of  the 
mother ! 

Marble  lived  until  we  had  passed  within  the  Gulf  stream,  dy 
ing  easily  and  without  a  groan,  with  all  my  family,  Neb,  and  the 
first  mate,  assembled  near  his  cot.  The  only  thing  that  marked 
his  end  was  a  look  of  singular  significance  that  he  cast  on  my 
wife,  not  a  minute  before  he  breathed  his  last.  There  he  lay 
the  mere  vestige  of  the  robust,  hardy  seaman  I  had  once  known, 
a  child  in  physical  powers,  and  about  to  make  the  last  great 
change.  Material  as  were  the  alterations  in  the  man,  from  what 
he  had  been  when  in  his  pride,  I  thought  the  spiritual  or  intel 
lectual  part  of  his  being  was  less  to  be  recognized  than  the  bod 
ily.  Certainly  that  look  was  full  of  resignation  and  hope,  and 
we  hac.  reason  to  believe  that  this  rude  but  honest  creature  w«s 


MILES     W  A  L  L  1  K  G  F  O  II  D .  403 

spared  long  enough  to  complete  the  primary  object  of  hi.s  exist 
ence. 

In  obedience  to  his  own  earnest  request,  though  sorely  against 
(he  feelings  of  my  wife  and  daughters,  I  buried  the  body  of  my 
old  friend  in  the  ocean,  six  days  before  we  made  the  land. 

And  now  it  remains  only  to  speak  of  Lucy.  I  have  deferred 
this  agreeable  duty  to  the  last,  passing  over  long  years  that  were 
pregnant  with  many  changes,  in  order  to  conclude  with  this  de 
lightful  theme. 

The  first  few  years  of  my  married  life  were  years  of  bliss  to 
inc.  I  lived  under  a  constant  sense  of  happiness — a  happiness 
that  man  can  derive  only  from  a  union-  with  a  woman  of  whom 
his  reason  and  principles  as  much  approve,  as  his  tastes  and 
passion  cherish.  I  do  not  mean  to  be  understood  that  the  years 
which  have  succeeded  were  a  whit  less  happy,  for,  in  a  certain 
sense,  they  have  been  more  so,  and  have  gone  on  increasing  in 
happiness  clown  to  the  present  hour;  but  because  time  and  use 
finally  so  far  accustomed  me  to  this  intimate  connection  with 
purity,  virtue,  female  disinterestedness,  and  feminine  delicacy, 
that  I  should  have  missed  them,  as  things  incorporated  with 
my  very  existence,  had  I  been  suddenly  deprived  of  my  wife, 
quite  as  much  as  in  the  first  years  of  my  married  life,  I  enjoyed 
them  as  things  hitherto  unknown  to  me. 

As  I  ride  over  the  fields  of  Clawbonny,  even  at  this  day,  I  re 
call  with  tranquil  delight,  and  I  trust  with  humble  gratitude,  the 
manner  in  which  those  blessed  early  years  of  our  marriage  pass 
ed.  That  was  the  period  when  every  thought  of  mine  was  truly 
shared  by  Lucy.  She  accompanied  me  in  my  daily  rides  or 
drives,  and  listened  to  every  suggestion  that  fell  from  my  lips, 
writh  kind  interest  and  the  most  indulgent  attention,  rendering 
me  back  thought  for  thought,  feeling  for  feeling,  laugh  for  laugh ; 
and  occasionally,  tear  for  tear.  Not  an  emotion  could  become 
aroused  in  my  breast  that  it  did  not  meet  with  its  reflection  in 
hers;  or  a  sense  of  the  ludicrous  be  awakened,  that  her  keen, 
but  chastened  humor  did  not  increase  its  effect  by  sympathy. 
Those  were  the  years  in  which  were  planned  and  executed  the 


404  MILES      W  AL  L  I  N  G  F  O  11  D  . 

largest  improvements  for  the  buildings,  pleasure-grounds,  and 
fields  of  Clawbonny.  We  built  extensively,  not  only  out  houses 
and  stables  better  suited  to  our  present  means,  and  more  en 
larged  modo  of  living  than  those  which  existed  in  my  father's 
time,  but,  as  has  been  stated  before,  we  added  to  the  dwelling, 
preserving  its  pleasing  confusion  and  irregularity  of  architecture. 
After  passing  the  first  summer  which  succeeded  our  marriage 
in  this  manner,  I  told  Lucy  it  was  time  to  stop  building  and 
improving  my  own  place,  in  order  that  some  attention  might  be 
bestowed  on  that  she  had  inherited  from  Mrs.  Bradfort,  and 
which  was  also  old  family  property. 

"  Do  not  think  of  it,  Miles,"  she  said.  "  Keep  Rivcrscdgc  in 
good  order,  and  no  more.  Rupert,"  who  was  then  living,  und 
in  possession,  "  will  see  that  nothing  goes  to  waste ;  but  Claw- 
bonny,  dear  Clawbonny,  is  the  true  home  of  a  Wallingford — 
and  I  am  now  a  Wallingford,  you  will  remember.  Should  this 
precious  boy  of  ours  live  to  become  a  man,  and  marry,  the  old 
Westchestcr  property  can  be  used  by  him,  until  we  are  ready  to 
give  him  up  possession  hcrc.'k 

This  plan  has  not  been  literally  carried  out ;  for  Miles,  my 
oldest  son,  lives  with  us  at  Clawbonny  in  the  summer;  and  his 
noisy  boys  are  at  this  moment  playing  a  game  of  ball  in  a  field 
that  has  been  expressly  devoted  to  their  amusements. 

The  period  which  succeeded  the  first  half  dozen  years  of  my 
union  with  Lucy,  was  not  less  happy  than  the  first  had  been ; 
though  it  assumed  a  new  character.  Our  children  then  came 

o 

into  the  account,  not  as  mere  playthings,  and  little  beings  to  be 
most  tenderly  loved  and  cared  for,  but  as  creatures  that  possess 
the  image  of  God  in  their  souls,  and  whose  future  characters,  in 
a  measure,  depended  on  our  instruction.  The  manner  in  which 
Lucy  governed  her  children,  and  led  them  by  gentle  means  to 
virtue  and  truth,  has  always  been  a  subject  of  the  deepest  ad 
miration  and  gratitude  with  me.  Her  rule  has  been  truly  one 
of  love.  I  do  not  know  that  I  ever  heard  her  voice  raised  in 
anger  to  any  human  being,  much  less  to  her  own  offspring  ;  but 
whenever  reproof  has  come,  it  has  come  in  the  language  of  in 


MILES      W  A  L  L  I  N  G  F  O  R  D .  465 

tcrcst  and  affection,  more  or  less  qualified  by  severity,  ao  circum 
stances  may  Lave  required.  The  result  Las  been  all  that  our 
fondest  hopes  could  have  led  us  to  anticipate. 

When  we  travelled,  it  was  with  all  our  young  people,  and  a 
new  era  of  happiness,  heightened  by  the  strongest  domestic  af 
fection,  opened  on  us.  All  who  have  seen  the  world  have  ex 
perienced  the  manner  in,  which  our  intellectual  existences,  as  it 
might  be,  expand ;  but  no-one  who  has  not  experienced  it,  can 
tell  the  deep,  heart-felt  satisfaction  there  is,  in  receiving  this 
enlargement  of  the  moral  creature,  in  close  association  with 
ihose  we  love  most  on  earth.  The  manner  in  which  Lucy  en 
joyed  all  she  saw  and  learned,  on  onr  first  visit  to  the  other 
hemisphere ;  her  youngest  child — all  four  of  our  children  were 
born  within  the  first  eight  years  of  our  marriage — her  youngest 
child  was  then  long  past  its  infancy,  and  she  had  leisure  to  enjoy 
herself,  in  increasing  the  happiness  of  her  offspring.  She  had 
improved  her  mind  by  reading ;  and  her  historical  lore,  in  par 
ticular,  was  always  ready  to  be  produced  for  the  common  advan 
tage.  There  was  no  ostentation  in  this ;  but  every  thing  was 
produced  just  as  if  each  had  a  right  to  its  use.  Then  it  was  I 
felt  the  immense  importance  of  having  a  companion,  in  an  intel 
lectual  sense,  in  a  wife.  Lucy  had  always  been  intelligent ;  but 
I  never  fully  understood  her  superiority  in  this  respect,  until  we 
travelled  together  amid  the  teeming  recollections  and  scenes  of 
the  old  world.  That  America  is  the  greatest  country  of  ancient 
or  modern  times,  I  shall  not  deny.  Everybody  says  it;  and 
what  everybody  says  must  be  true.  Nevertheless,  I  will  venture 
to  hint  that,  cceteris  paribus,  and  where  there  is  the  disposition 
to  think  at  all,  the  intellectual  existence  of  every  American  who 
goes  to  Europe  is  more  than  doubled  in  its  intensity.  This  is 
the  country  of  action,  not  of  thought  or  speculation.  Men  fol 
low  out  their  facts  to  results,  instead  of  reasoning  them  out. 
Then,  the  multiplicity  of  objects  and  events  that  exist  in  the  old 
countries  to  quicken  the  powers  of  the  mind,  has  no  parallel 
here.  It  is  owing  to  this  want  of  the  present  and  the  past 
which  causes  the  American,  the  moment  he  becomes  speculative, 


460  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

to  run  into  the  future.  That  future  promises  much,  and,  in  a 
degcec,  may  justify  the  weakness.  Let  us  take  heed,  however, 
that  it  do  not  lead  to  disappointment. 

After  all,  I  have  found  Lucy  the  most  dear  to  me,  and  the 
most  valuable  companion,  since  we  have  both  passed  the  age  of 
fifty.  Air  is  not  more  transparent  than  her  pure  mind,  and  I 
ever  turn  to  it  for  counsel,  sympathy,  and  support,  Avith  a  con 
fidence  and  reliance  that  experience  could  alone  justify.  As  we 
draw  nearer  to  the  close  of  life,  I  find  my  wife  gradually  loosen 
ing  the  ties  of  this  world,  her  love  for  her  husband  and  children 
cxccpted,  and  fastening  her  looks  on  a  future  world.  In  thus 
accomplishing,  with  a  truth  and  nature  that  are  unerringly  ac 
curate,  the  great  end  of  her  being,  nothing  repulsive,  nothing 
that  is  in  the  least  tinctured  with  bigotry,  and  nothing  that  is 
even  alienated  from  the  affections,  or  her  duties  in  life,  is  min 
gled  with  her  devotion.  My  family,  like  its  female  head,  has 
over  been  deeply  impressed  by  religion ;  but  it  is  religion  in  its 
most  pleasing  aspect ;  religion  that  has  no  taint  of  puritanism, 
and  in  which  sin  and  innocent  gayety  arc  never  confounded.  It 
is  the  most  cheerful  family  of  my  acquaintance ;  and  this,  I  must 
implicitly  Relieve,  solely  because,  in  addition  to  the  bounties  it 
enjoys,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  it  draws  the  just  distinction 
between  those  things  that  the  word  of  God  has  prohibited,  and 
those  which  come  from  the  excited  and  exaggerated  feelings  of 
a  class  of  theologians,  who,  constantly  preaching  the  doctrine  of 
faith,  have  regulated  their  moral  discipline  solely,  as  if,  in  their 
hearts,  they  placed  all  their  reliance  on  the  efficacy  of  a  school 
of  good  works  that  has  had  its  existence  in  their  own  diseased 
imaginations.  I  feel  the  deepest  gratitude  to  Lucy  for  having 
instilled  the  most  profound  sense  of  their  duties  into  our  chil 
dren,  while  they  remain  totally  free  from  cant,  and  from  thoso 
exaggerations  and  professions  which  so  many  mistake  for  piety 
of  purer  emanation. 

Some  of  my  readers  may  feel  a  curiosity  to  know  how  time 
has  treated  us  elderly  people,  for  elderly  we  have  certainly  be 
come.  As  for  myself,  I  enjoy  a  green  old  age,  and  I  believe 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  467 

look  at  least  ten  years  younger  than  I  am.  This  I  attribute  to 
temperance  and  exercise.  Lucy  was  positively  an  attractive 
woman  until  turned  of  fifty,  retaining  even  a  good  deal  of  her 
bloom  down  to  that  period  of  life.  I  think  her  handsome  still ; 
and  old  Neb,  when  in  a  flattering  humor,  is  apt  to  speak  of  either 
of  rny  daughters  as  his  "  handsome  young  missus,"  and  of  my 
wife  as  his  "handsome  ole  missus." 

And  why  should  not  Lucy  Ilardinge  continue  to  retain  many 
vestiges  of  those  -charms  which  rendered  her  so  lovely  in  youth  ? 
Ingenuous,  pure  of  mind,  sincere,  truthful,  placid,  and  just,  the 
soul  could  scarcely  fail  to  communicate  some  of  its  blessed  prop 
erties  to  that  countenance  which  even  now  so  sensitively  reflects 
its  best  impulses.  I  repeat,  Lucy  is  still  handsome,  and  in  my 
eyes  even  her  charming  daughters  are  less  fair.  That  she  has 
so  long  been,  and  is  still  my  wife,  forms  not  only  the  delight 
but  the  pride  of  my  life.  It  is  a  blessing,  for  which,  I  am  not 
ashamed  to  say,  I  daily  render  thanks  to  God,  on  my  knees. 


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